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Orient & Pacific Lines ships sail from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver. Photograph bv Tom Hollyman.
Where will you be when you land — Australia? Fiji? Hawaii?
YOUR Orient & Pacific liner is at Suva in the
Fiji Islands. Six sunlit days ago you were in
Hawaii. In another six you'll be in Australia.
The men on the pier belong to the Fiji
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stirring concert. (Captain Cook got a different
reception. He called these the Cannibal Islands.)
Fiji is a fascinating place to explore. You can
shop for primitive art and rare sea shells. Have
a suit made to measure by an Indian tailor in
six hours. Or turn back the clock at a native
feast and listen to old Polynesian songs.
Your trip is just as exciting between ports.
Each Orient & Pacific liner has two swimming
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What does a vacation like this cost? As little
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$604 -to the Far East at $640
Orient & Pacific Lines: Suite D, 210 Post St.,
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Agents in United States and Canada.
by Dr. Franklin S. Harris, Jr.
A Recent Study
A recent study by UNESCO found
that at least fifty percent of scien-
tific literature is in languages which
more than half the world's scien-
tists cannot read. Nearly two-thirds
of the engineering literature is in
English, but more than two-thirds
of the world's professional engineers
cannot read English, while a still
larger proportion of English-reading
engineers cannot read scientific
literature in other languages.
Study of Primitive Tribes
A study of the primitive tribes of
Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru by
Drs. Hans H. Neumann and N. A.
DiSalvo has confirmed that soft diets
and lack of exercise contribute to the
presence of caries in "higher" civili-
zations. The natives didn't use
toothbrushes or toothpaste; they ate
diets high in carbohydrates, even
containing simple sugars; and the
water had too little fluoride to be
important. The diets included mate-
rials such as hard, crusty bread or
nuts. The Peruvians can exert a
force of 184 pounds with their jaws,
the Mexicans 168 pounds, while
American athletes averaged 127
pounds.
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PURITY BISCUIT COMPANY Salt Lake • Phoenix • Pocatello
NOVEMBER 1958
785
The Improvement Era, The Voice of the Church, Volume 61, Number 11, November 1958
Ofhcial organ of the priesthood quorums, Mutual Improvement Associations, ward
teachers, Music Committee, Department of Education, and other agencies of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
■■■ ■■■:■ ■ : ' ■
Church Features
The Editor's Page: The Power of Prayer President David O. McKav 806
Your Question: Biblical Evidence that Joseph Smith Was Called of God
President Joseph Fielding Smith 808
Preliminaries to the Restoration-Cone. Milton V. Backman, Jr. 846
The Presidents of the Church 825 to 844
The Church Moves On, 802; Melchizedek Priesthood; Priesthood Quorums in the
Missionary Cause, 820; The Presiding Bishopric's Page, 822.
Special Features
"Ah, Wilderness"— The Beginning of Adolescence (So That's
What Boys Are Made Of)-V W. Cleon Skousen 810
Exploring With Books 813
Leadership Development: The Three Ts" Sterling W. Sill 816
Good Teaching and Discipline DonF. Colvin 818
Through the Eyes of Youth: "Wickedness never Was Happiness"
John Harmer 824
The Spoken Word from Temple Square
Richard L. Evans 852, 860, 864, 882
Exploring The Universe, Franklin S. Harris, Jr., 785; Letters and Reports, 791; These
Times, The National Defense Act of 1958, 796; A Recording for Church Organists, 859.
Today's Family: The Family that Reads Together, Elizabeth Larimore 866
Don't Keep the Children in the Dark about Family Finances
Florence J. Johnson 870
Stories, Poetry
The Gold Poke
Poetry
Lee Martinsen 814
812, 854, 859, 860, 879, 882
David O. McKay and Richard L. Evans, Editors; Doyle L. Green, Managing Editor;
Marba C. Josephson, Associate Managing Editor; Elizabeth J. Moffitt, Production Editor;
Albert L. Zobell, Jr., Research Editor; John Kinnear, Editorial Associate; Florence B.
Pinnock, Today's Family Editor; Ralph Reynolds and Ed Maryon, Art Directors.
Our cover this month
is a full-color reproduction
of an oil painting
of the Sacred Grove,
Palmyra, New York. The
painting, by Elder Frank
Magleby, now hangs
in the Eastern States
Mission home,
New York City.
Archibald F. Bennett, G. Homer Durham, Franklin S. Harris, Jr., Milton R. Hunter,
Hugh Nibley, Sidney B. Sperry, Contributing Editors.
Joseph T. Bentley, General Manager; Bertha S. Reeder, Associate General Manager;
Verl F. Scott, Business Manager; A. Glen Snarr, Subscription Director; Thayer Evans,
Regional Advertising Representative.
The Improvement Era Offices, 50 North Main Street, Salt Lake City 11, Utah
Copyright 105S by Mutual Funds, Inc., and published by the Mutual Improvement Associations of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. All rights reserved. Subscription price, $2.50 a year, in advance; foreign subscriptions, $3.00 a year, in
advance; 25c single copy.
Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah as second-crass matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage
provided for in section 1103. Act of October 1917, authorized July 2, 1918.
The Improvement Era is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, but welcomes contributions. Manuscripts arc paid for on
acceptance at the rate of Use a word and must be accompanied by sufficient postage for delivery and return.
Thirty days' notice required for change of address. When ordering a change, please include address slip from a recent issue
of the magazine. Address changes cannot be made unless the old address as well as the new one is included.
786
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
:.m
W
sm
m
Give the gift that endures . . .
There's a book for every age
and taste at
Answers to Gospel Questions
-VOL. II Joseph Fielding Smith
In this second volume, President Smith gives an-
swers to fifty vital questions, many of which have
never been presented to the public before. Among
these, answers on: non-segregation, guided missiles
and interplanetary travel, the authority of Jesus,
cremation of the dead, and others.
$2.50
VOLUME l-$2.50
Pocket Triple Combination
Handy, portable triple combination — Book of
Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great
Price — bound in genuine black leather with fab-
ric lining. Clear legible type.
$6.00
White Leather-$6.75
'M. W.
Christmas shop the easy way
—from your chair at home.
Use convenient gift order
blank on page 790.
me
m
Hwers
NOVEMBER 1958
787
A Century of Singing
J. Spencer Cornwall
J. Spencer Cornwall, conductor of the
Tabernacle Choir from 1935 to 1957,
writes an all-inclusive dramatic book on
this inspired 111-year-old singing organi-
zation. It is filled with many colorful
anecdotes and is highly entertaining as
well as informative.
$3.25
He That Liveth
Doyle L. Green
This family book, a must for parents and children to
read and discuss together, about Jesus the Christ, is
written by the managing editor of The Improvement
Era and answers a real need in the Church. Ten
masterpieces from the facile brush of the master
Danish painter, Carl Bloch, are included.
$3.25
Do your Christmas shopping by mail from DESERET BOOK
788
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
WHERE IS WISDOM? Stephen L Richards
The rich and mature philosophy of President Richards
is expressed in this outstanding collection of sermons
and addresses. This is a wonderful book for speech
preparations and lesson-giving — one you'll want to own
and also one you'll want to give. $2.95
WHY THE KING JAMES VERSION
J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
President Clark sets forth clearly and concisely the
reasons why the LDS Church accepts the King James
Version of the New Testament. He cites opinions of
Biblical authorities and scholars on various translations.
An interesting, absorbing book. $4.75
SAY THE GOOD WORD Oscar A. Kirkham
Readers will thrill to the significance of "How to Build
a Fire" and "He Could Sleep When the Wind Blew"
and other favorites in this treasure chest of stories,
poems and speeches by one of the greatest leaders of
youth. $3.50
SAGA OF MORMONISM
Doyle L. Green
A pictorial history of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, with concise information on histori-
cal events and places. It spans early days to the present.
Wonderful as an "extra" gift. $1.00
MORMON DOCTRINE
(A Compendium of the Gospel)
Bruce R. McConkie
Here is a reference text that will save countless hours
of research on thousands of gospel subjects. It is the
only major attempt to digest, explain, and analyze all of
the important doctrines of the LDS Church — the only
extensive compendium of the whole gospel. $5.00
PATHWAYS TO HAPPINESS David O. McKay
Compiled by Llewelyn R. McKay
In this vital volume a series of valuable guideposts
point the way to lasting happiness and a full rich life.
President McKay offers keen insight into such subjects
as education, courtship and marriage, free agency, death,
home life and personal aspirations. $3.95
OUR LEADERS SPEAK
Compiled by Brigham Young University
Thousands of young people have been inspired to better
living by the Devotional, held weekly on the Brigham
Young University campus. Here, arranged according to
subject, are excerpts from these speeches. $2.95
THE GENEALOGICAL READER
Noel C. Stevenson
Collected here are a number of penetrating articles that
explain how to do more and better genealogical work
and how to avoid the common pitfalls of genealogical
research. Well-chosen examples make this book vibrant
and absorbing. $2.50
JERRY LINDSEY-EXPLORER TO THE SAN JUAN
A wonderful book for all adventure-seekers that de-
scribes early days in San Juan County. There are many
hair-raising tales about the Indians and other dangers
facing the pioneers. A perfect book for active boys —
ages 8 to 12. $1.95
A WESTERN COWKID
Howard R. Driggs
True-to-life happenings are related by Howard R.
Driggs, master storyteller, who reflects upon his early
childhood when the West was rugged and still had a
frontier. A wonderful gift selection for boys 8 to 12.
$2.00
THE MORMON STORY
Rulon S. Howells
Here, in one amazing book, are pictures, graphs, maps
and charts that cover nearly every hard-to-explain fea-
ture of Mormonism. There are awe-inspiring full page
pictures in color of Joseph Smith's first vision and other
treasures. $3.95
A LOOK AT MORMONISM Benjamin Alward
Achievements of the LDS Church and its people are
told through 385 picturesque black-and-white photo-
graphs and interesting captions. $4.00
Give books from DESERET BOOK COMPANY
«•- * - «««»»«»»,
■■■vi-y- .■:---:,.y\''y ■ ■
i issi ir
■HIIIISI
NOVEMBER 1958
789
I
3LE7
WRITE FOR COMPLETE CATALOG
OF LDS BOOKS
AND ORDEK FORM
Handy
Mail Order
Coupon
DESERET BOOK COMPANY
44 East South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah
Gentlemen:
Enclosed you will find ( ) check ( ) money
order ( ) I have an account. Piease charge.
Amount enclosed $ - for the
following checked books:
□ ANSWERS TO GOSPEL QUESTIONS-
Volume II $2.50
Volume I $2.50
□ POCKET TRIPLE COMBINATION $6.00
□ A CENTURY OF SINGING $3.25
□ HE THAT LIVETH $3.25
□ WHERE IS WISDOM? - $2.95
□ WHY THE KING JAMES VERSION $4.75
□ SAY THE GOOD WORD $3.50
□ SAGA OF MORMONISM $1.00
Q MORMON DOCTRINE (A Compendium
of the Gospel) $5.00
Q PATHWAYS TO HAPPINESS $3.95
□ OUR LEADERS SPEAK $2.95
□ THE GENEALOGICAL READER $2.50
□ JERRY LINDSEY - EXPLORER TO THE
SAN JUAN $1.95
D A WESTERN COWKID $2.00
□ THE MORMON STORY $3.95
D A LOOK AT MORMONISM $4.00
□ DEAD SEA SCROLLS AND ORIGINAL
CHRISTIANITY ....$2.00
□ THE CANDLE OF THE LORD $3.75
Name
Address
City Zone State.
Residents of Utah include 2% sales tax.
Dead Sea Scrolls and
Original Christianity
O. Preston Robinson
Dr. Robinson, Editor and General Manager of
the Deseret News, toured the Holy Land and made
a first-hand study of all existing facts relating to
the Dead Sea Scrolls. He has come up with some
startling facts. Read this highly-interesting book
and become better informed about one of the most
exciting religious discoveries in centuries. Presented
from an LDS point of view.
$2.00
The Candle of the Lord
Adam S. Bennion
Readers will almost hear again the talks and ser-
mons of the beloved Adam S. Bennion — his com-
mon-sense counsel to youth, to parents, to teachers,
to bankers and businessmen, to industrialists and
labor leaders, to all who have personal problems
and who need guidance and strength.
$3.75
DQSGNtElBOOn' Co.
.,.. 44 East South Temple - Salt Lake City. Utah ..---J
ii
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790
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Letters
and
Reports
A WARD TEMPLE SESSION
One of the brethren at priesthood meet-
ing asked why the Idaho Falls Seven-
teenth Ward couldn't have a temple ses-
sion of their own. They decided to find
out. President William L. Killpack of the
Idaho Falls Temple agreed that a third
temple session could be had on the regular
North Idaho Falls Stake temple day if
enough came to fill it. The Relief Society
sisters offered to help by assisting in
getting temple clothing ready. The MIA
arranged a list of girls who would do baby
sitting, accepting it as a church assign-
ment instead of receiving money for it.
The session was a great success, sixty-six
men and sixty-three women attending—
about ninety percent of the ward mem-
bers holding temple recommends had
been present. Later in the evening the
group met for cake and ice cream, and to
have their picture taken.
Paradise, California
Dear Editors:
My family has received about five issues
of The Improvement Era and we look
forward to a new one each time.
Being converts of seven months, we find
strength and guidance in Sterling W. Sill's
features on leadership development. I like
it so much that when I had the privilege
of speaking at my high school graduation,
I read his article called "The M Factors"
and made it the foundation for the talk.
Sincerely,
Beverly J. Pessner
Seattle, Wash.
Attention: The Editors
I have been a reader of the Era for a
good many years— in fact, since becoming
a member of the Church in 1940. The
Era was to a certain extent instrumental
NOVEMBER 1958
in my being converted, and since then
has been very close to my heart.
I like the new Era because of easier
readability, better arrangement, better il-
lustrations, etc. Though I personally am
interested mainly in the gospel articles,
... I am very disappointed in the new
method of showing footnotes at the end of
the magazine. Footnotes should be at the
bottom of the page where they are easily
accessible to those interested in them.
Even though it is an all-purpose magazine,
those articles of a scholarly nature with
footnotes should be printed the way
scholarly articles are normally printed,
with footnotes at the bottom of the page.
The Era has meant so much to me the
past ten years or so that I have gone to
the trouble and expense of acquiring a
complete set, from Vol. 1 to the present,
all of which are bound. I find them price-
( Continued on page 804 )
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791
1. MORMON DOCTRINE - A Compendium
of the Gospel
by Bruce R. Mc Cortkie
No LDS home should be without this clear
and concise encyclopedia on Mormonism.
, lains thousands of beliefs of the Church
. with scriptural references cited for further
/. Basic principles of salvation, as
jvealed anciently and again in modern
times, are defined and outlined with rare
insight to bring the reader to a complete
understanding.
$5.00
'V.
PUBLISHERS TO THE LD.S. TRADE
11 66 SOUTH MAIN
792
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THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
that
all year long/,.
NOVEMBER 1958
793
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vSIC COURSE IN GENEALOGY - Vol. I & It
Gardner, Harland, and Smith
;re is a most comprehensive course in basic record
keeping and research for Stake and Ward geneaiogical
training programs. Written by professional genealogists,
these two best selling volumes teach step-by-step
procedures in research, and record keeping, and
evaluation of evidences which confront beginner and
veteran. Adopted as official te^t by many
wards and stakes.
$3.95 each
7. ABOUT BAPTISM
by Emma Marr Petersen
The wonderful adventure
in the life of a little orphan
subtly tells the entire story
of baptism as practiced in
the LDS Church. Children
mm
m
love the excitement
of the story.
$1.50
8. ABOUT PRAYER
by Emma Marr Petersen
A fascinating sequel to
"About Baptism", this warm, human
story follows the further adventures of an
orphan boy who went to live with Mormon
foster parents. His exciting experiences
and his escapes from harm teach
young readers "about prayer."
$1.50
>jU#'"r
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9. JUST ONE CUMORAH
by Riley Lake Dixon
Oft-asked questions concerning the Book of
Mormon, its locale and people are discussed
in this fascinating and scholarly study. Who
were the Jaredites? From whence did they
come? What became of them? Which course
did the Nephites travel? Where did they
land? Did they occupy the land
these United States? H
im
BOOKCRAFT
PUBLISHERS TO THE L.D.S. TRADE
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THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
10. CHRISTMAS SILHOUETTES
by David O. McKay
and Llewelyn R. McKay
true story and a fantasy make delightful
reading at Christmas time. These warm human
stories will tug at your heart as you read them
to your children . . . and your youngsters will
want to read them or hear them again and again.
354
H
Christmas Silhouettes
ntm^Si
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1 1 . PATHWAYS
TO HAPPINESS
by David O. McKay
Here is a book you'll love
and cherish for it contains
some of the choicest of
President McKay's sermons and
writings. Chosen and compiled by his son,
Dr. Llewelyn McKay, these articles clearly refit
the profound thoughts, emotions and keen
insight of President McKay.
$3.95
12. THE MORMON STORY
by Rulon S. Howells
People all over the world are asking abou
the Mormon Church and its story. This pictorial
account of Mormonism beautifully tells the history,
growth and progress of the Church in the
form of pictures, maps, graphs, charts
and skillfully written commentary. Many
full-color paintings.
13. THY WORD IS TRUTH
by Dr. Milton R. Hunter
This marvelous volume is packed w
material on vital gospel topics extr
from 72 inspiring talks given by
General Authorities. This companion
volume to "Gems of Thought" and
"Gospel Sermonettes" contains
excellent material for
priesthood leaders and
officers and teachers of
all the auxiliaries.
$1.50
DOLLAR BOOKS
A LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER
by Ora Pate Stewart
18. WHY I BELIEVE
by James Edward Clark
SOMEWHERE I'VE READ
by Lucy Thomson
MINUTE MASTERPIECES
by Lucy Thomson
ft All 1^WI«1
■f. Of
iilO!Miil: -
NOVEMBER 1958
795
Smooth,
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all-prepared for
IMi
QtoHtfieAVUj'l
Aunt Penny's recipe for
an old-time favorite
Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Heat 1 can Aunt Penny's White Sauce
to boiling. Grate 1^ to 2 cups Cheddar
Cheese. Put 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cooked
macaroni in greased casserole in al-
ternate layers with cheese and white
sauce, finishing with cheese on top.
Bake in moderate oven (375° F) for 20
to 25 minutes or until bubbly and
cheese is melted. Serves 6.
&UM£ fieAtMAf'4.
PREPARED r
WHITE SAUCE
These Times
:.■;■ :■:■.:■■ ■ ;■.:■:■ :::■:
The National Defense
Education Act of 1958
by Dr. G. Homer Durham
Vice-President, University of Utah
September 3, 1958, President
Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into
law the National Defense Education
Act of 1958. This enactment, by the
85th Congress, 2nd Session, brings
more change into American higher
education than any measure since
the Land-Grant College Act of 1862.
That law, the Morrill Act of 1862,
helped produce the universities of
California, Illinois, Minnesota, Wis-
consin, and other state "land-grant"
colleges and institutions in every
state of the Union.
Old programs in these and other
well-established institutions will now
receive new stimuli. Less-estab-
lished institutions will receive, by
grant or contract, the means of new
development. State boards of edu-
cation and their administrative of-
ficers, as well as universities and
colleges, will enter into new rela-
tions with the federal government.
The purpose *will be to strengthen
elementary and secondary instruc-
tion as a background for higher edu-
cation. There is really nothing
much new in the act. The pattern
goes back to Abraham Lincoln's ad-
ministration. The newness will re-
sult from the weaker and less-well
financed institution's new ability to
796
develop programs heretofore the
province of better-nurtured or bet-
ter-managed ones. Utah, for example,
had no land-grant college until
stimulated by various Acts of Con-
gress, especially those making fed-
eral funds available in 1887. Then,
Utah State at Logan was brought
into being.
The result of the 1958 law will be
to raise the level of preparation for
college, and, wider improvement of
the nation's collegiate resources
generally. These things are expressed
in the general policy statement,
Section 101, of the act:
"The Congress hereby finds and
declares that the security of the na-
tion requires the fullest development
of the mental resources and technical
skills of its young men and women."
The general philosophy of the bill,
now law, may be further summa-
rized as follows:
1. National defense depends upon
mastery of existing knowledge and
techniques.
2. The discovery and development
of new knowledge has even more
critical importance.
3. Efforts must be increased to
identify and educate talent.
4. "Existing imbalances in ed-
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
:>,
Thanksgiving
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Stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce and candied yams, not to mention
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special day that it is. For your fancy Thanksgiving recipes
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Always buy U and I
NOVEMBER 1958
797
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ideational programs," specifically,
insufficient people educated in
science, mathematics, modern for-
eign languages, and those trained
in technology, must be corrected.
5. The states and local communi-
ties "have and must retain control"
of public education.
6. National interest, however, re-
quires that the Federal Government
must, as since 1862, "give assistance"
for "programs which are important
to our defense."
7. A national emergency exists
which "requires additional effort at
all levels of government."
8. It is therefore the purpose of
the National Defense Education Act
"to provide substantial assistance in
various forms to individuals, and to
states and their subdivisions, in
order to insure trained manpower
of sufficient quality and quantity to
meet the national defense needs of
the United States."
So runs the national response to
Sputnik and the tremendous, strides
taken by Soviet education in the
past forty years.
The act has ten titles. From each,
many programs will grow, beginning
immediately. Something like $40
million is available this year. The
Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare, through the U. S. Of-
fice of Education, will be the na-
tional administrative agency, aided
by new advisory committees. Col-
lege and university presidents, if
alert, have already been to Wash-
ington in the past six months,
making anticipatory plans. Commis-
sioner Laurence Derthick of the
Office of Education, convened sev-
eral state superintendents of public
instruction in a three-day confer-
ence the same week the President
signed the bill. The dollar figures
in the material which follows repre-
sent patterns of authorization. Ac-
tual funds available the first year
will be around $40 million unless
supolemented by the 86th Congress.
Here are its main features:
Title I— General Provisions (see
above ) .
Title II— Loans to Students in In-
stitutions of Higher Education. This
title appropriates $47V2 million.
From this sum, institutions of higher
education, by contributing one-
ninth, may establish new Student
Loan Funds. From them a student
may borrow $1,000 a year, not to
exceed $5,000 total, at 3 percent in-
terest. Interest becomes payable
798
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Postum is the natural whole-grain drink
Have a cup of friendship — have a cup of Postum. Postum is
made from whole-grain cereals, slow-roasted to bring out a
rich, satisfying flavor. It's hearty, healthful, hospitable.
Postum is 100% coffee-free, contains no caffein or other
artificial stimulants. Ready in an instant, it's always welcome.
Make sure you always have Postum on hand.
100% coffee-free
Another fine product of General Foods
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OSTMW
POSTUI*
NOVEMBER 1958
799
SAFEWAY
Friend of the Family
Friend of the Farmer
It's always "Eat-More-Tur-
key-Time" at Safeway.
Thanksgiving is an extra
special time for turkey but
Safeway Stores promote the
sale of turkey at Easter, in mid-
summer and the year around.
This is done to cooperate
with Utah Farmers. Utah has
become a leading turkey pro-
ducing state with ideal climate
and conditions for raising the
birds.
Production has grown so
large that 90% of the turkeys
are now sold out of the state.
The problem is to find the mar-
ket.
Safeway does its part by
featuring turkeys for local
consumption and shipping large
quantities of quality Utah tur-
keys to other states.
Last year Safeway purchased
$379,183 worth of turkey from
Utah farms to help solve a seri-
ous over-production problem.
Friend of the Family
Friend of the Farmer
SAFEWAY
one year after completing school. No
interest accrues while in school or
the armed forces— ( three year maxi-
mum for the latter). There are ten
years to pay. Loans must be given
"especial consideration" for studeats
who plan to teach, or "whose aca-
demic background indicates a su-
perior capacity ... in science,
mathematics, engineering, or a mod-
ern foreign language. . . ."
Title III— Financial Assistance for
Strengthening Science, Mathematics,
and Modern Foreign Language In-
struction. This title carries $70
million for equipment, "minor re-
modeling," and loans, through state
plans, primarily for the public
schools.
Title IV— National Defense Fel-
lowships. One thousand fellowships
are authorized this year, fifteen hun-
dred each year thereafter, for three-
year periods. Designed for graduate
students (Ph.D. candidates), these
will carry stipends of $2000, $2200,
and $2400 during successive years,
plus $400 for each dependent; and,
aims at increasing the short supply
of university professors— "the geese
that lay the golden eggs" now being
"drained off" by higher salaries in
other fields.
Title V— Guidance, Counseling,
and Testing; Identification and En-
couragement of Able Students. This
title appropriates $15 million for
grants to state educational agencies
to assist them in improving public
school counseling. An additional
$6.25 million is available to contract
with universities for short-term or
regular training institutes in this
field. The University of Utah, for
example, established the old "Bureau
of Student Counsel" under Dr.
Arthur L. Beeley in 1926. From
this beginning has come a variety of
graduate training programs at the
Utah school, now producing scores
of Master's degrees and several
Ph.D.'s each year. Such well-estab-
lished programs are likely centers
for training contracts.
Title VI— Language Development.
The commissioner is given $8 million
to contract with universities to estab-
lish "Language and Area Training
Centers." For example, the Uni-
versity of Utah had such a program
under an army contract, 1942-1945,
and continued some features at the
graduate level through its Institute
of Government "Area Studies" be-
ginning in 1946. Harvard, Colum-
bia, and Michigan have had much
more expensive and specialized pro-
grams. Under the new law, institu-
tions contracting for "Language and
Area Centers" must contribute 50
percent of their cost. "Language
Institutes" of short-term nature are
also authorized in this title, with
$7Mj million available, to train pub-
lic elementary or secondary lan-
guage instructors.
Title VII— Research and Experi-
mentation in More Effective Utiliza-
tion of Television, Radio, Motion
Pictures, and Related Media for
Educational Purposes. This provides
$3 million the first year ($5 million
thereafter) for grants, contracts, and
co-ordination, to promote effective
use of these new media. A new
"National Advisory Committee on
New Educational Media" of four-
teen persons is to assist.
Title VIII— Area Vocational Edu-
cation Programs. Fifteen million
dollars is available for state plans,
through state agencies, to generate
wide improvements in this field,
especially in the scientific-technical
aspects. Despite the long-established
programs at Weber College, Utah
State, the Salt Lake area, and central
Utah vocational schools, (for exam-
ple, the recent coming to Utah of
Sperry-Rand, Litton Industries, Mar-
quard, Thiokol, and others) there
has been revealed a marked short-
age of this type of training.
Title IX— S ci e nc e Information
Service. This is a new agency, cre-
ated under the National Science
Foundation, to index, abstract, trans-
late, and disseminate scientific in-
formation. In the long run it may
prove to be the most important
single feature of the National De-
fense Education Act of 1958.
"Knowledge is power."
Title X— Miscellaneous Provisions.
The principal substantive element
of this title is section 1009, "Im-
provement of Statistical Services of
State Educational Agencies." Grants
to a state department of education
up to $50,000 a year are authorized
"to improve and strengthen the
adequacy and reliability of educa-
tional statistics provided by state
and local reports. . . ." This is the
basis for future policy planning.
Here is a measure which orients
the United States' educational sys-
tem towards the rapidly changing
world order of these times. New
dimensions, new opportunities, new
"fields to conquer," new problems
for public policy will follow.
800
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Standard's local buying means good business
for more than 26,000 "hometown" suppliers
Our shopping list covers everything from adding machines to zinc. Almost any item
you can name — from commonplace things like pencils, paint, pipe, printing to the less
ordinary like binoculars, badges, blankets and burglar alarms — is on our 50,000-item
shopping list.
Here in the West alone, last year Standard was a good customer for more than 10,000
suppliers of goods and services, to whom we paid more than $250,000,000. This was an
important factor in the business health of many western towns.
When a sum like this goes into circulation it spreads out in all directions to support
jobs and payrolls. It helps assure customers for thousands of enterprises, both small and
large, including Standard. That's why we make every practical effort to buy locally —
it means better business in the communities we serve.
STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA
plans ahead to serve you better
NOVEMBER 1958
801
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Playing dimensions and console arrange-
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of the American Guild of Organists.
A Wurlitzer Church Organ offers
rich, worshipful tone — a reverent and
moving contribution to the Church
Service.
It places at the command of any
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802
The Church
Moves On
September 1958
-„ Endowment sessions began in the London Temple. The first
1 of these sessions were reserved for British members of the
Church going through the temple for the first time. Other
sessions will be held in English and in the Scandinavian languages
this week.
On a suggestion by the First Presidency, many of the wards
and branches built today's Sacrament meeting program
around the divinity of the American Constitution.
President David O. McKay returned to Salt Lake City by
air from London, where he dedicated the temple there.
Appointment of Elder Alma A. Gardiner as general secre-
tai tary of the Deseret Clubs was announced. The clubs are
organizations for small groups of LDS students on uni-
versity campuses throughout the nation that do not have LDS
institutes of religion.
"Helaman Halls" has been selected as the name of the men's
residences on the campus of Brigham Young University. The
central dining room and business building will be named after
George Q. Cannon. Individually, the seven residences will be
known as David John Residence Hall, Stephen L. Chipman Resi-
dence Hall, Thomas N. Taylor Residence Hall, Hinckley Residence
Hall, Walter Stover Residence Hall, William Budge Residence
Hall, and Marriner Wood Merrill Residence Hall. The group of
residences for women students, in operation for several years, is
known as "Heritage Halls."
The First Presidency announced the appointment of Elder
Fred A. Turley of Snownake, Arizona, to preside over the
Southwest Indian Mission, succeeding President Alfred A.
Rohner. Active in Church work all his life, President Turley filled
a mission in the Eastern States 1915-17, and he and Mrs. Turley
filled a mission in Texas-Louisiana, 1951-53. For the past year he
has assisted with the operation of the Church-owned ranch in
Florida. Mrs. Turley will accompany him to this new field of
labor.
The appointment of Mrs. Darlene Stevenson Parkinson of
Salt Lake City to the general board of the Primary Association
was announced.
Elder Malcolm C. Young sustained as president of North
Box Elder (Utah) Stake with Elders Varsel Chlarson and
Lee R. Andersen as counselors. They succeed President
Vernal Willie and his counselors, Elders Elbert R. Beecher and
J. Delos Thompson.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Fall is an ideal time to travel east-
colorful autumn leaves, new Broadway
shows, delightful weather and cool,
crisp evenings.
And the ideal way to get there is on a
smartly appointed Union Pacific
Domeliner. Your pleasure begins the
moment you step aboard. You'll relax
all the way . . . enjoy delicious dining
car meals ... the luxury of the lounge
. . . have servants at your command . . .
save your car and your nerves . . . and
arrive refreshed and ready for business,
sightseeing or fun !
Need help with your travel plans?
We're at your service — anything from
planning your itinerary to arranging
for a Hertz rental car if you wish. Let
us explain the money-saving Family
Fares, too, and the Rail Travel Credit
Card which makes it unnecessary to
carry large amounts of cash.
For details, reservations, or help with
your travel plans, see your nearest
Union Pacific Railroad ticket agent.
UNION PACIFIC
NOVEMBER 1958
803
BOB AND SUE, like thousands of their elders, have learned the truth
about the "lying allure of liquor."
HAVE YOU seen through the glamorous haze thrown up by the
alcohol advertisers? HAVE YOU learned enough of the truth about
liquor to want to have no part of it?
"IF YOU DON'T DRINK," says the Preferred Risk Mutual Insur-
ance Co., "WHY HELP PAY FOR THE ACCIDENTS OF THOSE
WHO DO?" Preferred Risk, America's first automobile insurance
company for non-drinkers only, now makes it possible for you to stop
paying for the drinker's accidents — and to save money at the same
time.
If you are a non-drinker,* we invite you to investigate, and insure
with Preferred Risk. Save money — and put your automobile insur-
ance where your heart is— with the thousands of others who say,
"No Thanks— we don't drink." For full details, including an explana-
tion of Preferred Risk's merit reduction plan for claim-free drivers,
return this coupon now.
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William Plymat, President
804
Letters and Reports
(Continued)
less and use them constantly in my study
and research work.
Sincerely yours,
Jerreld L. Newquist
Denver, Colorado
Dear Sirs:
As I am being discharged from the army,
would you kindly send future Era to my
home in Denver?
I have enjoyed very much the more
recent issues of the Era. Especially the
articles by Sterling W. Sill on leadership
development. They have been a great aid
in my job.
Thank you for bringing the Church
closer to me in Europe.
Sincerely,
John R. Schneider
Phoenix, Arizona
Dear Editors:
Just a word of appreciation for your
untiring efforts, manifest so amply in the
pages of the Era. We have thoroughly
enjoyed the pages of past Eras— and are
certainly proud of your present format and
organization. May our Father ever help
and bless you to continue presenting the
gospel through the Era.
Sincerely,
David C. Jones
Lehi, Utah
I feel I have gained a great deal in
working to fill my Golden Gleaner re-
quirements. I am especially grateful for
The Improvement Era. We have taken
the Era for many years, but I have never
taken the time to read much of it. But
in filling an assignment of required read-
ing of four or five articles from each issue
for one year, I learned to dearly love it.
Now I read it from cover to cover and
can hardly wait for the next issue. Thank
you from the bottom of my heart.
Faye B. Godfrey
Waterloo, Iowa
Dear Sirs:
I want to say that I think the Era is a
very wonderful magazine, I've learned so
much about the Church. We've had the
Era ever since October of 1954, and I
wouldn't miss a copy. The questions and
answers department I think is swell. All
the wonderful poems and recipes. I'm
a collector of both. I have read the "Jesus
the Christ" in the Era, also I'm reading it
in the book. It's a wonderful book.
I have been the Era Director for almost
4 years, and I have to know what I'm
selling. I'm very proud and happy of the
opportunity I have had in selling the Era.
I have interested two others in the
Church through the magazine.
Keep up such fine work, I'm sure you'll
have willing people helping you in the
work.
May God guide you always.
Sincerely yours,
Sister Eldora Jane Williams
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
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NOVEMBER 1958
805
The Power
by President
There are a number of virtues which I consider
to be essential in order that the prayers of men may
prove to be efficacious:
The first and most fundamental virtue in effective
prayer is faith. A belief in God brings peace to the
soul. An assurance that God is our Father, into whose
presence we can go for comfort and guidance, is a
never-failing source of comfort.
Another essential is reverence. This virtue is
exemplified in the model prayer given by the Savior
in the words "Hallowed be thy name." (Matt. 6:9.)
This principle should be exemplified particularly in
our houses of worship.
The third essential element is sincerity. Prayer is
the yearning of the spirit. It is a message of the
soul sent directly to a Loving Father. The language
is not mere words, but a loving heart in tune with
the Infinite. Sincere praying implies that when we
ask for any blessing or virtue we should work for
the blessing and cultivate the virtue.
The next essential is loyalty. Why pray for the
kingdom of God to come unless you have in your
heart a desire and a willingness to aid in its estab-
lishment? Praying for his will to be done and then
not trying to live it, gives you a negative answer at
once. You would not grant something to a child
who showed that attitude towards a request he is
making of you. If we pray for the success of some
cause or enterprise, manifestly we are in sympathy
with it. It is the height of disloyalty to pray for God's
will to be done and then fail to conform our lives
to that will.
A final essential is humility-not an outward, hyp-
ocritical pretense, but a humility that springs from the
heart, from an absence of self-righteousness. Self-
respect is a virtue, but self-conceit is an inhibition.
The principle of humility in prayer leads one to feel
a need of divine guidance. Self-reliance is a virtue,
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
The Editors Page
of Prayer
David O. McKay
but with it should go a consciousness of the need of
superior help— a consciousness that as you walk firmly
in the pathway of duty, there is a possibility of your
making a misstep; and with that consciousness is a
prayer, a pleading that God will inspire you to avoid
that false step.
If our young people will have faith and approach
their Father in heaven in prayer, there are at least
four great blessings that will come to them here and
now:
The first is gratitude. Their souls will be filled
with thanksgiving for what God has done for them.
They will find themselves rich in favors bestowed.
The young person who closes the door behind him,
draws the curtains, and there in silent prayer pleads
with God for help, should first pour out his soul in
gratitude, for health, for friends, for loved ones, for
the gospel, and for the manifestations of God's exist-
ence.
The second blessing of prayer is guidance. I can-
not conceive a young man's going astray or a young
girl's going far wrong who keeps in close communica-
tion with his or her Father in heaven. I cannot
think that a Latter-day Saint will hold enmity in
his heart if he will sincerely, in secret, pray God to
remove from his heart all feelings of envy and malice
toward any of his fellow men.
The third blessing is confidence. Let us teach the
thousands of students who are earnestly striving to
gain an education that if they desire to succeed in
their lessons, they should seek their God; that the
greatest teacher known to the world stands near to
guide them. Once the student feels that he can ap-
proach the Lord through prayer, he will receive
confidence that he can learn his lessons, that he can
prepare his speech, that he can stand before his fel-
low students and deliver his message without fear
of failure. Confidence comes through sincere prayer.
One who prays will receive inspiration. It is not
imagination that we can approach God and can
receive light and guidance from him, that our minds
will be enlightened, our souls thrilled by his spirit.
Washington sought and found it; Lincoln received
it; Joseph Smith knew it. Inspiration is manifest to
all who will but open their eyes to see and their
hearts to understand.
The Lord's prayer has been given us as a pattern
for prayer. Let us analyze part of that prayer as it
is recorded in the sixth chapter of Matthew:
"Our Father which art in heaven . . . ," is an
acknowledgment of his existence. He that cometh to
God must believe that he is.
"Hallowed be thy name . . . ," expresses reverence.
"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done . . . ," is at
once a plea for its establishment on earth, and an
implied promise loyally to co-operate in bringing
peace on earth, good will to men.
"Give us this day our daily bread . . .," is an
acknowledgment of our dependence upon God for
our very subsistence-at least that we are in need of
his help and guidance in all our constant strivings.
"And forgive us our debts [or trespasses], as we
forgive our debtors [or those who trespass against
us] . . . ," makes our forgiveness entirely dependent
upon the sincerity of our hearts in forgiving others,
and upon the extent to which we render forgiveness,
we shall receive forgiveness in proportion to our for-
giveness of those who have offended us.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil, . . ." is the yearning plea of a humble heart
for strength and guidance of an acknowledged su-
perior power.
May we ponder these things as we prepare our-
selves for prayer in our secret places, in our families,
and in our Church gatherings.
NOVEMBER 1958
807
Your
Question
swered bv
Joseph FiJjding Smith
. ■
President of the Council of the Twelve
>v/
■«.-
Biblical Evidence that
Joseph Smith Was
Called of God
Question:
"If Joseph Smith was truly called to be a prophet
of God, surely there would be some prophetic refer-
ences to him in the Bible. Is it possible to point out
any ancient predictions showing that he was so called?"
Answer:
There are many passages in the Bible pointing to
the fact that a prophet would be called in the last
days, and that there would be revelations and visions
and restoration of the gospel in its fulness. If a person
thinks the name of Joseph Smith ought to be found
in the Bible spelled out in so many letters, he will
search in vain. It seems rather strange that the truth,
which is so plainly written showing an apostasy, and
a restoration of the gospel in the last days, would be
so generally misunderstood. The Bible is filled with
predictions of an universal apostasy and the need for
a restoration, and that again the heavens would be
opened and our Eternal Father and his Son Jesus
Christ, would commune with prophets and establish
the gospel on the earth. We are now living in the
Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, when Paul said
Christ would "gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are in
earth; even in him."1 Peter called it "the times of
refreshing," and the "restitution of all things, which
God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets
since the world began."2
These predictions being true, then, in our time there
must be a prophet and a church recognized by the
Father and the Son in which divine revelation is
found. Surely there could come no restitution or time
of refreshing, without a prophet clothed with divine
authority as was Moses, holding this authority from
heaven, for no such authority can be assumed by any
person without a divine call. Therefore there would
have to be an opening of the heavens with new revela-
tion and commandment. Moreover, the Lord through
many prophets predicted that all things would be
restored and that the Lord would again make cove-
nants with his people.3
In a brief article it is impossible to point out all
the references in the- writings of ancient prophets
( See page 883 for footnotes. )
808
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
bearing on the restoration of the gospel and the
coming of a new and final dispensation wherein
prophets would speak and say: "Thus saith the Lord."
Elders Parley P. Pratt in his Voice of Warning, which
was published over a hundred and twenty years ago,
and his brother Orson Pratt, who wrote a few years
later, have published to the world an abundance of
evidence showing the fulfilment of prophecy in the
mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is unnecessary
to repeat over and over again, this evidence which
has been so faithfully declared. Many others also have
spoken and their words have gone forth to an un-
believing world. The attention to sincere believers in
the divine mission of Jesus Christ is again called to
the writings of these men. If any person desires a
complete answer to this question, then he should
obtain these publications: by Elder Parley P. Pratt,
in the Voice of Warning:
Prophecy Already Fulfilled;
Prophecy Yet Future;
The Kingdom of God;
Restoration of the Saints and of all Things;
Origin of the American Indians.
Publications by Elder Orson Pratt:
Divine Authority— Or Was Joseph Smith sent
of God;
The Kingdom of God;
Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon.
When any person has read these chapters, if he is
not convinced, then his case indeed, is hopeless, for
the light of truth either cannot penetrate his soul, or in
spite of it he refuses to believe. Since this matter is so
carefully and completely handled by these brethren,
and the evidence is available, I shall turn my attention
to a few other matters of the most vital significance.
Let us consider first the prophecy of Malachi:
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall
prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye
seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the
messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:
behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
"But who may abide the day of his coming? and
who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like
a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.
"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver:
and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them
as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord
an offering in righteousness.
"Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be
pleasant unto the Lord, as in days of old, and as in
former years.
"And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will
be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against
the adulterers, and against false swearers, and
against those who oppress the hireling in his wages,
the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the
stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord
of hosts."4
Bible interpreters have declared that this was ful-
filled in the days of Christ's ministry; but this is not
so. It is very evident, notwithstanding the fact that
John the Baptist came in the Dispensation of the Me-
ridian of Time, and was the forerunner of Christ, that
this prophecy was not fulfilled at that time, but was to
be fulfilled at a later day, or in the Dispensation of
the Fulness of Times. This prophecy declares that
(1) Christ was to come suddenly to his temple; as
the messenger of the covenant; (2) He was to be like
a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap, to be a refiner
and purifier, to purify the sons of Levi and purge them,
that they "may offer unto the Lord, an offering in
righteousness." (3) It was to be a day when the of-
fering of Judah and Jerusalem would be pleasant, as in
days of old and former years. (4) It was to be a day
of judgment and swift witness against the sorcerers
and adulterers, false swearers, and those who oppress
the widow and the fatherless. Surely these things did
not happen in the days of the ministry of our Lord
when he dwelt among men. In that day the Levites
and the sons of Judah turned against him and brought
him to his death; every one abode his coming, and
he did not come in that ministry in judgment like a
refiner's fire. The sons of Levi were not purged, and
they did not offer an offering in righteousness.
No! We must look for a later day for the fulfilment
of this prophecy. Much of this prophetic prediction
by Malachi is yet future; some of it has been fulfilled.
The Lord did come suddenly to his temple on the
third day of April 1836. It was on that day when
other heavenly messengers came, and when the keys
for the gathering of Israel were restored by Moses. It
was on that day when Elias, who lived in the days of
Abraham, came and bestowed the keys of the Dispen-
sation of Abraham: It was when Elijah came in ful-
filment of the prophecy of Malachi, and restored his
keys of turning the hearts of the fathers to their chil-
dren and their children to their fathers.
On this occasion Christ accepted and approved the
work of his servants, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery,
thus turning the key for the redemption of Judah and
Levi that they might, in the due time of the Lord,
make offerings that would be acceptable. Malachi in
very definite language declared that Elijah must
come, "before the coming ( Continued on page 873 )
NOVEMBER 1958
809
Fifth of the Series
So That's What Boys Are Made Of
;A h, Wilderness '
the beginning of adolescence
by W. Cleon Skousen
Chief of Police, Salt Lake City
(Behavior Patterns and Problems, Ages 12 and 13)
Portrait of a 12-Y ear-Old
Adolescence is like a ride on a roller coaster, and
age 12 is the slow, easy climb that leads up to a high
summit— to be followed, in due course, by a sudden
plunge into the breathless depths of a big dip at 13.
A 12-year-old knows he is climbing to new excit-
ing heights. He also knows that he doesn't under-
stand a lot of what is happening. Nevertheless,
because he temporarily feels a new inner peace he
takes the climb in stride. Just as at 3, 5, 7, and 10,
Junior senses that everything is going to work out all
right. He notes that he is not as rebellious, cantanker-
ous and sassy as he was last year during his 11-year-
old thrust. He gets along with adults better, including
his teachers and parents. He enjoys conforming more
than last year. He hears his mother whisper to Dad,
"I think Junior is over the hump." In response Dad
may merely grunt or mumble. He has seen Junior
get over humps before. What he wants to know is
when should the family prepare for the next slump.
He remembers enough about his own adolescence
to recall that it was one continuous round of humps
and slumps.
Usually, however, a 12-year-old has one full year
of ebb-tide ahead of him.
Physical Traits
Physically, a 12-year-old may look pretty much
like his 11-year-old self. He is still a "little boy"
in many ways. Parents can't understand what hap-
pens to all the bread, milk, meat, potatoes, and
double desserts he has been wolfing down the past
year. Won't it ever show? It finally does. Fre-
quently the latter part of age 12 is when there is a
pattern of growing and rounding out of bone and
muscle that signals the gradual transition from boy-
hood to youth.
However, rapid growth requires so much vitality
that often this will compete with Junior's ambition
in athletics or in other physical activities. We may
therefore see him burning up all kinds of energy at
a sand lot baseball game and then coming home to
literally collapse. This is not an act. It is Mother
Nature's way of saying that Junior has reached bed-
rock and needs a rest. His recovery rate is likely to
be slow— requiring several hours usually— and if he
is continually goaded back into activity before re-
vitalization has taken place we may find him becoming
very susceptible to colds or other maladies resulting
from low resistance.
Usually a 12-year-old also has frequent complaints
about his feet. These should not be ignored. Weak-
ness resulting from rapid growth may cause the muscle
structure of the arch to give way. Also ill-fitting shoes
on rapidly growing feet may be the cause of serious
problems in later years.
The Mind and Emotions of a 12-Y ear-Old
Mentally and emotionally, Junior usually finds dur-
ing age 12 most of the things he was looking for during
age 11. He no longer bullies his parents and pals to
try and prove his status. He now feels he can take
himself and his acceptance more or less for granted.
He feels more relaxed. His behavior becomes more
generous, less egocentric. He enjoys talking with
people and copies many new grownup expressions.
He does better in school.
Because Junior is no longer so self-centered he
makes a fairly good listener. But only on new things!
He cannot stand to hear a joke twice. If a teacher
810
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
forgets where the lesson left off and goes back for a
little review a 12-year-old may wrap himself in a
mantle of gloom because he "heard it already."
Junior is getting sophisticated now. He prides
himself in keeping his emotions and fears under con-
trol. He complains that mystery stories don't scare
him like they used to. He also boasts that he doesn't
"bawl any more like the little kids." In reality he is
capable of a real good boohoo session, but it does
not happen very often. An achievement which is far
more notable but seldom mentioned is the fact that
since he became 12, Junior doesn't have those ex-
plosive temper outbursts like he did last year.
The Social 12-Y ear-Old
As far as sociability is concerned, Junior, is far
better adjusted at 12 than the year before. It reminds
his parents of the content-
ed days of 9 or 10. He
will often complain, however,
that his father is "too busy,
and ought to spend more time
at home." This may not be
altogether true, but it is worth
the time of a father to make
sure that there are weekly ses-
sions together in work and
play or maybe just talk. The
father should be prepared for
the disappointment of dis-
covering, however, that a 12-
year-old does not need a
father's attention nearlv so much as he claims. In fact,
many a conscience-stricken father has cancelled im-
portant engagements to spend more time with his son,
only to discover that fifteen or twenty minutes of
being together is about all his boy can stand. The
interests of each are still too far apart. Unless they
engage in some common activity or project, the com-
panionship quickly disintegrates as the boy wanders
off to find one of his pals. Another couple of years
and Junior will be ready for "long talks" or "just being
together."
At 12, however, a boy not only finds it difficult to
spend a lot of time with his dad— he also avoids
making soul partners with any of his pals. He sort
of covers the field— first favoring one friend, then
another. Mostly, he likes people in groups. Dis-
crimination comes later.
Attitudes and Aptitudes
The opinions of his friends are very important to a
12-year-old. Their opinions often get priority over
his parents' ideas. He listens avidly to their pros and
cons covering important subjects like "the best
SHUT OUT THEY WAIT
by Iris W. Schow
The sun is up there shining;
All know that this is true;
But while fog fills the valley,
Its rays cannot come through.
God's love is there, too, waiting,
Some know beyond a doubt;
But greed and wilful blindness
Form fog that keeps love out.
movies," "girls," "favorite teachers," and "who will win
the World Series."
A boy's attitudes and aptitudes during age 12 make
it an ideal time to work him hard in any organized
boy's program. But it must be organized! He likes
a "sharp" outfit with discipline and lots of planned
activity. He even wants to help with the planning,
but woe be the day if the plans are not carried out.
A recent survey of dropouts in a national youth or-
ganization indicated that the boys generally lost
interest "because we never did anything," or "because
nothing was organized."
It is common for boys of this age to have an all-
consuming enthusiasm for athletics. However, there
are many perfectly normal boys who do not. These
boys will shy away, especially from football, basket-
ball, or other "team" sports. Often they will partici-
pate if it is required in
school, but they will not
voluntarily do it for fun. How-
ever, the one sport which this
type of boy will usually go
out for is swimming. It
seems to be a universal fa-
vorite, and many schools and
colleges are enlarging their
athletic program to include
swimming. This type of boy
may also acquire a zest for
some specialized sport such
as tennis, handball, wrestling,
golf, or boxing.
Is Right and Wrong Important?
Authorities generally agree that by the time a boy
is 12 he should have overcome most of his problems
of lying, cheating, and stealing. Everything else
being equal, parents should consider themselves run-
ning behind schedule if this is not accomplished by
around 12. There will be exceptions, of course, but
they should be rare ones. Any pattern of lying, cheat-
ing, or stealing is what the law calls "delinquency."
Authorities point out that unless a boy has de-
veloped rather mature ethical values by 12 he is
likely to get into difficulty as he tries to cope with
the many new insights and powerful drives which
come alive during adolescence. For example, many
things which he considered downright "bad" as a
child will receive a far more sympathetic considera-
tion during adolescence. A case in point is the fact
that he is likely to feel much more tolerant toward
swearing, drinking, and smoking, and may try out all
three. He is likely to identify these with being grown-
up, and doing "grownup things" is mighty important
to an adolescent. (Continued on page 874)
812
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
FAMILY NIGHT READER, A Guide for Teaching the Gospel
in the Home, S. Dihvorth Young
Bookcraft, Salt Lake City. 1958. $2.50.
This is a book for Latter-day Saint parents to hand to their
young people for their reading and understanding of gospel
principles which will affect their lives for good. It is, more-
over, a book that can well be used as its title and subtitle
suggest, for hours when the family comes together for gospel
discussions. If the family will make this a working text, they
will all grow in faith and unity in their homes as well as in the
Church program.— M. C. }.
HE THAT LIVETH, Doyle L. Green
Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City. 1958. $3.25.
This book for young and old deals with the life and work
of the Savior of mankind. Written in language that is at
once beautiful and understandable, He That Liveth is in
addition an artistic masterpiece, including ten full-color,
full-page reproductions of paintings by the famous Danish
artist, Carl Bloch.
This is a book that Latter-day Saint homes will desire to
have in their libraries since it includes the story of Jesus
from all of the Standard Works of the Church.— M. C. J.
KANGAROOS AND OTHER ANIMALS WITH POCKETS,
Louis Darling
William Morrow and Co., New York. 1958. 64 pages. $2.50.
This is a story of mammals with pouches— the kangaroo,
marsupial moles, and the koala bear (teddy), and others.
Mr. Darling has written and illustrated an engrossing book
about the habits and characteristics of these lovable animals
with pockets.— E. /. M.
COUNTRY MAILMAN, Jerrold Beim
William Morrow and Co., New York. 1958. 48 pages. $2.50.
Jerrold Beim has, as always, accurately portrayed the in-
terests and yearnings of a small boy, and Leonard Shortall's
drawings are filled with warmth and gentle humor. A book
to delight every child who has ever longed for the mailman
to bring him a letter of his very own.— E. }. M.
THE RAINBOW BOOK OF AMERICAN FOLK TALES
AND LEGENDS, Maria Leach, Illustrated
World Publishing Co. 1958. S19 pages. $4.95.
This book includes State Lore, Bad Men, Tall Talk, Strange
fi xplore with Books
Tales, Local Legends and Popular Tales, and other sections
dealing with American folklore that are fun for winter evenings
when apples are polished for eating and the fire's burning
brightly, and the children are gathered round for reading.
Billy the Kid, Pecos Bill, and Paul Bunyan roam through the
pages to the never-ending delight of young and old.— M. C. J.
FAMILY READING FESTIVAL, Stories and Poems to Read
Together, Selected and edited by Frances Cavanah, Illustrated,
326 pages. $5.95.
The purpose of this book is to entertain all the members
of the family, to inspire them, to expand their horizons.
That Frances Cavanah should have made the selection and
clone the editing is significant since she is a writer of rare
talent herself. The book is interesting too in that it contains
some of the best of the contemporary writers for young people
as well as the established authors— and if young people enjoy
them so will the older folk. This is a recommended book
for family reading.— M. C. ].
THE ARABS, Harry B. Ellis, Illustrated,
World Publishing Company, Neio York. 1958. 124 pages. $2.95.
Written for children by an expert who has won recognition
for two previous books, Heritage of the Desert and Israel and
the Middle East, this book will increase understanding for our
neighbors in the Middle East.
If young people will learn the brotherhood of man, soon
the entire world will become more ready to accept the Father-
hood of God, and peace may then become a reality.— M. C. J.
THE SUN KINGDOM OF THE AZTECS, Victor W. von
Hagen.
The World Publishing Company, New York. 1958. 127 pages.
$2.95
The author begins with a quotation from the diary of
Bernal Diaz del Castillo, one of the Spaniards who accom-
panied Cortez into the land of the Aztecs. The author has
included the placement of the Maya, the Olmec, the Toltec,
and the Totonac as well as the Aztec.
The framework is a story, but the material has been care-
fully gleaned from history, and the index bears out the truth
of the book.-M. C. J.
LITTLE BURMA, Robert M. McClung
William Morroto & Co., New York. 1958. 256 pages. $2.95.
Quietly Ben Forrest climbed over the window sill and
dropped to the ground. He was running away— from the farm,
from his harsh guardian, from the drudgery and unhappiness
of his life. But what could a 12-year-old boy do in New York
town in the year 1796? Ben's love of animals gave him the
answer. Little Burma, the first elephant brought to America
was to become his special charge, and the experience of
training and exhibiting the elephant opened up an exciting
new world to him.— E. J. M.
NOVEMBER 1958
813
The Lost Gold Poke
by Lee Martinsen
Through Indian country, mountains, deserts,
swampy valleys, and narrow, rugged canyons where
danger dogged every hard-earned step of himself and
his weary mules— that was the life of a freighter back
in the 'seventies and 'eighties. And my father, Bill
Martinsen, had a good route— from Salt Lake City
to Butte, Montana, with two heavy wagons in the
spring; then to Canada, and return to Salt Lake City
by the dead cold of winter.
But this once when Bill returned to Butte from
Canada, snow was already falling in what was surely
to be an early hard winter. He knew he must travel
faster than his heavy freight wagons could go if he
were to get home to Salt Lake City before the trails
were closed by drifts and ice.
Bill sold his freight outfit in bustling Butte, buying
a light wagon and a good team of horses, and was on
his way home. He now carried about twenty-five
hundred dollars in gold dust— a sizable poke— which
was his profit for the northward trip, plus what he
received from his freight outfit.
Traveling south as fast as his team could stand the
heavy going, he pulled into Beaver Canyon, a deep
gorge on the Idaho side of the divide, just as the sun
was setting in the early winter evening. He had to
make camp soon for the night. He knew a familiar
campsite up ahead, and drove toward it. But he was
surprised to find six men already on those camp-
grounds!
There was plenty of room for him, but to Bill's
observing eye those campers were pretty rough-
looking. The first thing Bill thought about were the
chances of being robbed of his gold, his outfit, and
even his life.
It was dark in the canyon now and too dangerous
to drive on, so he camped near to the six men and
their wagon. Where was some place to hide his poke?
Going about his chores, he decided to bury the gold.
He found a mound of dirt by a hole of a rodent, and
buried his poke, being careful to cover it over again.
He retired feeling better about the night ahead, wak-
ing in the morning to find his strange neighbors for
the night almost ready to break camp.
"Hurry up and get ready," they called in a friendly
manner. "We'd better travel together in this weather.
We can help each other out."
But Bill called: "Thanks, just the same. You go on.
I've got to tighten a shoe for one of the horses."
(It was just an excuse— he wanted privacy in travel-
ing with that gold poke.)
The six men left moments later, waving good-bye
and good naturedly telling him not to delay too long
in that weather.
Bill started his morning chores, feeding his team,
eating breakfast himself, then loading his gear on the
wagon, not hurrying in order to give the men a big
start before he went for his gold. When he did, it
was gone! His summer of hard work plus the value
of six mules and two freight wagons were gone. He
tore at the mound with his hands, flattening it, but
the gold just wasn't there!
What would his family do through a hard, cold
winter? Where and how would he get another start
as a freighter? Those thieves! He would catch those
men and get his gold back or die in the attempt!
But in taking another look at his own campsite, he
knew that it couldn't have been they. There were no
tracks in the snow except his own near the mound or
between the two campsites. They couldn't have taken
his gold; but what happened to it?
Bill took a shovel and started digging into the dirt
mound. Frantically he dug for about five hours,
following the hole as it twisted and turned in the
earth. About ten feet from the starting place and
five feet deep, he found his precious gold intact. The
inquisitive little animal had dragged the gold poke
into his den.
All this happened before I "was born. As a man I
retraced that freight route with my father, Bill
Martinsen. Standing in Beaver Canyon, this pioneer
of rawhide and spring steel pointed out the site of
the mound, and brushing a tear from his seventy-year-
old eyes, finished the story with: "My son, this was the
best lesson of my life. Never, under any circum-
stances, accuse anyone of dishonesty unless you have
positive proof of your accusation."
NOVEMBER 1958
815
Leadership Development
The Three Fs
by Sterling W. Sill
Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
One of the first steps toward any accomplishment
is to find out what the problem involved in that
accomplishment is. Effective leadership in or out
of the Church, must know the goal to be reached and
the difficulties that must be overcome. In Church
work we need to know why some people are not "on
schedule" for the celestial kingdom and what to do
about it. Effective treatment must always be pre-
ceded by an accurate diagnosis. We should therefore
ask ourselves, what are the sins that make people
lose their blessings?
The Lord has made it clear that the two most
grievous sins are: first, the sin against the Holy
Ghost, and second, the shedding of innocent blood.
Now suppose that we figure out what percentage of
the people in our particular ward or stake will be
kept out of the celestial kingdom because of these
two most serious sins. Fortunately we would find the
percentage to be very small. Yet we know that ". . .
wide is the gate, and broad the way, that leadeth
unto destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat." (Matt. 7:13.) That is, a very large per-
centage of people disqualify themselves for the
celestial kingdom for other reasons. We must know
what those reasons are if we plan to give effective
help.
We all know about the subheadings of learning
called "The Three R's." But how much do we know
about the subheadings of sin called "The Three I's?"
The Three I's are particularly dangerous because they
are usually regarded as "the little sins." Yet they
undoubtedly cause more people to lose their exalta-
tion than all of the other sins combined. That is, "it
is not the giant redwoods that trip us up as we walk
through the forest; it is the vines and the underbrush."
In fact, the three I's might appropriately qualify
among the sins as "The Big Three." They are:
Ignorance, Indecision, and Indifference.
816
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Ignorance
To become a son of perdition, one must sin
against great knowledge. That is the sin of the
greatest enormity. But the sin of the greatest fre-
quency is ignorance— that is not to know in the first
place. The religion of Jesus has always suffered more
from those who did not understand than from those
who opposed. It is largely our ignorance that stands
between us and our blessings.
Upon the cross Jesus said, "Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do. . . ." (Luke 23:34.)
The sin of the Jews was the sin of ignorance. They
didn't understand. Pilate didn't know the real iden-
tity or importance of this young peasant carpenter
who was standing before him. But why didn't he
know? There is only one logical answer, and that
is that he had not invested the time nor the honest
effort necessary to find the truth. Pilate could have
found out who Jesus was if he had made an earnest
and adequate investigation. For "they never sought
in vain who sought the Lord aright." They only fail
to find who fail to seek.
Almost all of the sins in the world are in one way
or another the sins of ignorance. This was true in
the days of Noah; it was true in the days of Jesus;
it is true in our own day. The young man who dis-
obeys the ten commandments doesn't really under-
stand what he is doing. The young woman who fails
to develop her spirituality by not obeying the word
of the Lord doesn't know what she is doing, nor does
she realize what the consequences are going to be.
Some sins may be forgiven, but who can forgive us
our ignorance?
There is an old fable that tells of a horse that once
ran away from its master. Then the horse repented
and returned and said to its master, "I have come
back." The master said, "Yes, you have come back,
but the field is unplowed." It is very difficult to
repent of unplowed ground, and it is very difficult
to repent of lessons not learned and self-improve-
ment not made. To dispel ignorance is one of the
great challenges to those who have Church leader-
ship responsibilities.
Indecision
The second "I" is indecision. Some sins are com-
mitted because 'we do wrong; other sins are
committed because we do nothing. Some people
just don't make up their minds one way or the other.
In consequence, they develop a kind of permanently
"suspended judgment." Ancient Israel had this
problem. Elijah said to them, ". . . how long halt
ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow
him: but if Baal, then follow him." (I Kings 18:21.)
In other words, Elijah said, "Make up your minds,"
But the record says, "And the people answered him
not a word." (Idem.) That is the pattern of most
indecision. We just don't move, one way or the
other. Our minds are left dangling between choices.
Procrastination is a part of indecision. When we
can't or won't make up our minds we just postpone
action, sometimes permanently. Just think how many
people lose their blessings because of procrastination.
So far as frequency is concerned, procrastination is
a far greater sin than murder. No one would de-
liberately choose to miss the celestial kingdom, but
exactly the same result can be achieved by just a
series of postponements, until our will gets weak and
our interest dies. Everyone wants to go to the
celestial kingdom sometime; they just don't want to
go right now.
Recently a mission president talked with an eighty-
nine-year-old investigator who kept putting off join-
ing the Church. The mission president said, "Do you
believe the gospel is true?" The investigator said,
"I know it is true as well as you do." The president
said, "Do you believe that Joseph Smith was a
prophet?" The investigator said, "I know that as
well as you do." The mission president said, "Then
why aren't you baptized?" The investigator said,
"Don't rush me. I'll let you know when I'm ready."
He is already eighty-nine. Think of the blessings he
has lost by procrastination.
After too much procrastination and vacillation,
some actually lose the power to make a decision. I
know of one man whose mind is so perfectly bal-
anced between the positive and the negative that
he has great difficulty getting an opinion either one
way or the other. His mind resembles a teeter-totter
in perfect balance. There is as much weight pressing
down on one side as on the other. He has difficulty
getting enough of a majority on either side to get
a conviction. Another man just about wears himself
out every morning trying to make up his mind
whether or not he is going to shave. He rubs his
chin and makes up such a perfect mental balance
sheet of pros and cons that his mind locks in neutral.
This same infirmity holds some of us back in our
Church work. We have difficulties making firm de-
cisions about things. There are some people who
haven't made up their ( Continued on page 879 )
NOVEMBER 1958
817
Conducted by
the Unified
Church School System
Qt>*>A> 'Jt^cJl^A^
<64,*4h \J\^X^JLA^it'
The title of this article implies that good discipline
is a matter of good teaching. Although the implica-
tion is not entirely justified, it does have much basis
in fact. It is not that the good teacher has no behavior
problems or potential disturbances, but the good
teacher has learned and applied preventive techniques
and proper corrective measures which minimize
breaches of acceptable conduct.
Successful discipline must take into account three
basic factors: first, what good discipline is; second,
what the causes of disciplinary problems are; third,
corrective procedures that can be followed.
Good Discipline
One definition of discipline is, "Control gained by
enforcing obedience or order." Actually as many
definitions exist, as do different schools of thought
as to what constitutes proper classroom control.
Views on the subject range from complete autocratic
control by the teacher (typical in schools a century
ago) to some modern liberalists who allow complete
freedom and expression. The latter approach leaves
control largely to the group of students with guidance
by the teacher in imposing needed restrictions on
behavior.
In teaching, then, discipline can be considered as
the control of normal and abnormal behavior. How
this control is achieved will depend in large part on
the personality of the teacher. In most classrooms
today, desirable control exists where students are
properly motivated to perform the tasks of learning
and do so in relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Hence,
good discipline becomes basically a matter of interest-
ing both the individual and the group on the group
level. Normal problems of misbehavior are at a
minimum when a class is properly motivated. How-
ever, abnormal behavior problems may still exist and
often need careful attention or even help from agen-
cies outside the classroom or school.
In order to operate an effective and rightful con-
trol, the good teacher must first be aware of the pos-
sible causes of poor conduct before he can either
prevent or correct it. The two basic roots of discipli-
nary problems are those caused by the teacher and
those caused by the students.
Problems Caused by Teachers
Violation of the rules of conduct are usually at-
tributed to students, but students are not always the
basic problem. Many times, in instances where stu-
dent conduct seems at fault, the problem can be
traced to some weakness in the instructor or his
818
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
methods. Disciplinary problems caused by teachers
usually fall into two basic classifications— lack of social
skills and lack of teaching skills.
Lack of social skills. Many problems arise in this
area because of the teacher's being guilty of any or a
combination of the following: embarrassing a student
in front of his peers, being rude or impolite, being
too stern, playing favorites, being inconsistent, failing
to hold sacred that which a student has privately
confided to the teacher, being unaware or failing
to give consideration to students with handicaps,
ignoring or treating lightly reasonable requests or
questions by the students, being moody, allowing
over -familiarity with students (being one with them
but not one of them ) .
Lack of teaching skills. Some common failures of
teachers in the areas which breed disciplinary prob-
by Don F. Colvin
Seminary Instructor
South High, Salt Lake City
lems are: lacking in preparation and organization;
lacking variety in methods; making assignments too
difficult, too easy, or too ambiguous; failing to insure
the comfort of students (heating, lighting, ventilation,
and so forth); being too easily swayed or taken off
the subject by student pressures; testing of subject
materials not covered by the class; failing to make
clear the learning procedures to be followed; spend-
ing time out of the classroom; lacking any democratic
approaches to learning.
Problems Caused by Students
The disciplinary problems caused by students gen-
erally fall into three classifications:
(a) Relationship of students with other students.
Behavioral problems arising here are as follows:
cheating on examinations or assignments, not passing,
flirting, noisy conversing, the disliking of others in
the classroom, and developing of cliques and so forth.
(b) Relationship of students to school activities.
The teacher must be aware of and sensitive to some
of the following situations which, if not handled
properly, can cause real disciplinary problems: the
last few days of school; the days just before a holiday
or vacation period; the period following pep rallies
or assemblies; events such ( Continued on page 877)
NOVEMBER 1958
819
Melchizedek Priesthood
■.■■ y. ■,.;:> .... y . ■■£££%.
%
Priesthood Quorums
in the Missionary Cause
What part should Melchizedek Priesthood quorums
play in carrying forward the organized missionary
work of the Church?
True, every member of the Church— male or fe-
male, priesthood bearer or not— is under solemn
covenant, made in the waters of baptism, to spread
the message of the restoration and to take every hon-
orable opportunity to tell our Father's other children
about the plan of salvation. This is a personal obli-
gation; it is carried on in addition to the organized
missionary enterprises of the Church.
•But what part should the priesthood quorums as
such play in spreading the gospel? Are they doing
all they can where the formal and organized mission-
ary work of the kingdom is concerned?
Here are some concrete suggestions:
1. Missionary Training Program
Please read pages 23 and 24 of the Melchizedek
Priesthood Handbook. Note that one of the three
great duties resting upon the Church is "to teach the
gospel to those who have not yet heard it or accepted
it." Note that priesthood quorums are organized to
aid in carrying on the responsibilities resting upon
the Church; and then note that the first of four ob-
jectives which these quorums have is to aid their
members "to become better acquainted, through care-
ful study, with the doctrines of the gospel and their
application to life."
There is a woeful lack of real gospel scholarship
among priesthood holders. Counsel such as, "Search
these commandments" (D & C 1:37), though falling
from the lips of Deity, has not been obeyed as fully
as becometh those who serve as the Lord's agents.
Too few of our brethren are "ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the
hope that is in you." (I Pet. 3:15.)
With special reference to the proselyting work, and
in addition to the regularly scheduled lesson material,
priesthood quorums should train their members in
presenting the lessons in the standard missionary
plan. Returned missionaries who are familiar with
these lessons could be used to good advantage in
teaching them. It is recommended, for instance, that
elders quorums hold regular cottage meetings with
their own inactive brethren and that they teach these
brethren the lessons in the regular missionary plan.
It would also be an excellent thing if all quorum
members would read and gain a working knowledge
of all of the proselyting literature of the Church.
Stake mission presidents will be happy to make tracts
available for this purpose.
2. Actual Missionary Service
An increasing number of quorum members should
qualify themselves to serve as missionaries and
should arrange their affairs so they can serve on stake
and foreign mission assignments. This obligation to
serve as full or part-time missionaries rests upon
elders, seventies, and high priests.
As a matter of fact, all of the young brethren called
into the foreign missionary service may well go out
as elders rather than as seventies. The effect of this
policy is to return zealous and enthusiastic mission-
aries to their homes for service in elders quorums
where their talents are needed more than they would
820
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
be in high priests or seventies quorums. Further,
young returned missionaries are benefited by such a
policy because of the opportunities for priesthood
service in elders quorums which would not in prac-
tice be available to them if they were seventies or
high priests.
Many older and more mature brethren and their
wives, who do not have family obligations to keep
them at home, might well be called to serve six
months or more in the full-time missions. There is
a great need in many missions for the services of
experienced couples who can both do active prose-
lyting work and become great pillars of strength in
small mission branches.
3. Financial Help for Families of Missionaries
Priesthood quorums should give financial assist-
ance to the families of missionaries in cases where
such is needed. Such a practice will, of course,
mean that greater numbers of brethren will be avail-
able for short or full-term foreign missions, and it is
in conformity with the revealed word.
". . . thus saith the Lord unto you, O ye elders of
my church, . . .
". . . it is the duty of the church to assist in support-
ing the families of those, and also to support the
families of those who are called and must needs be
sent unto the world to proclaim the gospel unto the
world.
"Wherefore, I, the Lord, give unto you this com-
mandment, that ye obtain places for your families,
inasmuch as your brethren are willing to open their
hearts.
"And let all such as can obtain places for their
families, and support of the church for them, not fail
to go into the world. . . .
"And again, verily I say unto you, that every man
who is obliged to provide for his own family, let him
provide, and he shall in nowise lose his crown; and
let him labor in the church.
"Let every man be diligent in all things. And the
idler shall not have place in the church, except he
repent and mend his ways." (D & C 75:23-26, 28-29.)
Such was the command in 1832; and such is the
principle both then and now. True, the Lord is not
now calling brethren to make the great financial sac-
rifices in connection with spreading the gospel that
he called them to make in the early days. But none-
theless there are many more of our priesthood
brethren who could go on missions, particularly if
their quorums would give partial assistance to the
family at home, as for instance in planting or harvest-
ing crops.
4. Quorum Missionary Funds
Every Melchizedek Priesthood quorum should col-
lect and disburse substantial amounts of money
through a quorum missionary fund. This should be a
separate account from the general funds of the quo-
rum, and it should be administered on a quorum and
not a group basis. Groups having missionary or other
funds are expected to turn them in to the quorum for
use and replenishment.
Full-time missionaries should never be supported by
quorums or others than their immediate family, ex-
cept to the extent absolutely necessary in the indi-
vidual case. Individuals and families are expected
to make whatever sacrifice is consistent with reason
and good judgment to send their own relatives on
missions. But there are many people in the Church
who are otherwise worthy and qualified, who never
could have the joy of (Continued on page 862)
NOVEMBER 1958
821
The Presiding
Bishopric 's
Page
REPORT ON AWARDS ISSUED DURING 1958
While we are still receiving a few belated applica-
tions for awards for last year, the records are so
nearly complete as to justify their publication at this
time.
While there has not been an increase in the num-
ber of stake awards issued, this is not disturbing be-
cause we cannot complete this feature in our program
until the very last— after we have heard from all of
the wards. There will yet be a substantial increase in
the number of stake awards issued for last year.
The records to September 1 indicate that the follow-
ing numbers of awards and attendance seals were
approved for 1957. We publish a comparison with
the total issued last year for 1956:
Awards
Issued to
Last Year
and Seals
Sept. 1, 1958
Total
Stake Awards
11
21
Ward Awards
494
474
100% Seals
6,807
5,915
95% Seals
6,369
4,906
90% Seals
5,227
4,209
Individual Awards
Priests
7,672
6,957
Teachers
10,551
9,138
Deacons
9,812
9,982
Totals
28,035
26,077
Our award records for 1958 are nearly completed.
In the little time remaining until December 31, stake
and ward leaders in the program for Aaronic Priest-
hood under 21 are respectfully urged to check every
young man's record and, wherever possible, help him
to overcome any lag which may keep him from receiv-
ing the individual award for 1958.
Calvin Jensen
Glade Perry
Evan L. Echols
PRIEST RECEIVES
NATIONAL HONOR
Calvin is a priest in the Boise Sixth Ward, Boise (Idaho)
Stake, and has earned five individual Aaronic Priesthood awards
in as many years. He was recently elected president of the
National Council of Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y organizations of high
school students devoted to extending the high standards of
Christian character in home, school, and community. Calvin's
stated goal is "To promote higher ideals in the hearts and
minds of American youth."
CHALLENGING RECORD
Glade is a priest in the Pleasant View Second Ward, East
Sharon (Utah) Stake. He has attended all priesthood and
Sacrament meetings in his ward for four years; was president
of the deacons quorum;, has earned the Duty to God Award;
is a ward teacher; and has recently received his Eagle Scout
Award.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE
Evan is a priest in the Gilbert Ward, East Mesa (Arizona)
Stake, and has established the exemplary record of perfect
attendance at priesthood meeting, Sacrament meeting, and
Sunday School since he was ordained a deacon nearly seven
years ago. Evan is the son of Charles and Evalyn Echols.
822
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
SACRAMENT MEETING ATTENDANCE
COMMANDED BY THE LORD
The primary purpose for attending Sacrament
meeting is to partake of the Sacrament. For this reason
this meeting has been designated as Sacrament meet-
ing. Despite the clarity of two revelations given in
this dispensation instructing the members of the
Church to go to the house of the Lord on the Sabbath
day, there are those who believe if they attend Sunday
school and partake of the Sacrament, they are under
no obligation to attend this meeting.
The Lord first mentioned partaking of the Sacra-
ment in this dispensation when he gave to the Prophet
Joseph Smith the revelation on Church government.
On that occasion he said,
"It is expedient that the church meet together often
to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of
the Lord Jesus." (D & C 20:75.)
Later when emphasizing the sanctity of the Sab-
bath day, he instructed the Saints to go to the house
of prayer on this day to offer up their sacraments.
(Ibid., 59:9.) The first of the foregoing revelations
was given sometime in April prior to the organization
of the Church, April 6, 1830. Sixteen months later,
August 7, 1831, the second revelation was given.
Since the first Sunday School was not held until
December 9, 1849, there can be no doubt that the Lord
was referring to Sacrament meeting and not to Sunday
School in both of the revelations referred to. Sacra-
ment meeting, therefore, is the official meeting of the
Church. While Sunday School is a wonderful meet-
ing, it does not in any way take the place of Sacrament
meeting. There is no reason for confusion in this
matter. All members of the Church are under obliga-
tion to attend Sacrament meeting each week.
STUDY GUIDE FOR WARD TEACHERS
DECEMBER 1958
The Spirit of Christmas
The Christian world is once again preparing to
commemorate the birth of Christ. The message of
"Peace on earth, good will toward men" will be re-
emphasized. While we are at peace, it must be
acknowledged, that it has not come to us in the spirit
of peace, but because the power of some nations to
make war has been completely dissipated, and other
nations are held in check because of the power of
their enemies. The peace that we enjoy has come as
a result of force rather than of goodwill. Prejudice,
hate, and jealousy are still deep-seated. Secretly
burning in the hearts of the leaders of some nations
are the desires for revenge.
Permanent and satisfactory peace depends upon
whether nations shall effect a peace built upon justice,
equality, and fairness for all. Those who dictate the
terms of peace should have in their hearts the spirit
of peace, and this is determined largely by the attitude
and desires of the people whom they represent. We
are willing to talk about our ideals, let us be willing
to live by them. We can best let our influence for
peace be felt by living in peace and harmony with our
families and our neighbors.
For all of us at this Christmas season, there should
be a revaluation of all fundamental Christian prin-
ciples, with the resolution to incorporate in our lives
those things we need most. Let us determine to give
those gifts which Christ gave. It was said of him, "he
went about doing good." This is within the reach of all
of us, and in so doing there will be found a place for
each of us in the hearts of our fellow men. Let us not
try to take more from life than we give. Before in-
dulging in luxury let us think of those who may lack
even the necessities. When we give of our material
substance, let us do so with our full love, that our
hearts may expand through giving.
While we are giving, here are a few suggestions
which will enrich both the giver and the receiver:
love, affection, sympathy, understanding, courage to
the fearful, tolerance to the erring, and strength to the
weak. Remember that one kind word may send our
neighbor in quest of a better life. These are gifts we
can give each day, and by being generous we bring
love to our homes, peace to neighbors and to our
nation, and joy to our Father in heaven. Peace for
the world rests upon the practise of these Christian
fundamentals in our daily lives.
INTRODUCTION OF STUDY GUIDE
FOR JANUARY 1959
Our Book Of Life
As we begin another new year, it is a good time to
look back over the progress of the past year. This one
thought we should keep fixed in our minds— there are
no second editions of the book' of life. The pages are
written as we live them. There will be no revisions
except as we may make them by living better today
than we did yesterday. Only in this way can we
improve our book of life.
NOVEMBER 1958
823
Through the Eyes of Youth
<.(.
Wickedness never Was Happiness
13
By John Harmer
One night, about a year and a half ago, I stood in
the midst of a great crowd of people, a people that
were seeking happiness through wickedness on New
Year's Eve. These people were seeking happiness
through drinking, through loud laughter, through
other sensuous ways, and as I watched them I felt
in my heart a great pity and a great love for them.
I knew these people. Each day I had entered their
homes, and I had testified to them of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, and I knew that for the most part they
were not a happy people. They had decayed spirit-
ually, and they were dying because they had turned
away from the commandments and the laws of God.
As I watched them I realized that they would
never find true happiness so long as they sought it in
ways contrary to the will of God. In the army I had
occasion to associate with a large number of men
who were never going to learn to realize that wicked-
ness is not and cannot be happiness. I remember
especially one young man who continually chided
me for my refusal to go with the boys on their "happy"
night out. I remember, too, when he broke out with
great open sores on his arm and his face, mute evi-
dence of the venereal disease that was eating away
his body, and the look on his face then was not one
of happiness.
What is wickedness?
What is wickedness? It is the disobedient act. The
young person who finds himself or herself in trouble
or in a sad situation in life can usually check back
and find it is because of having disobeyed the will of
God. For wickedness is disobedience, and the result
of disobedience is unhappiness, and it is just as true
that righteousness is obedience, and the result of
righteousness and obedience is true happiness.
What is happiness then? Do you remember the
Lord telling the Prophet Joseph Smith these words:
"But learn that he who doeth the works of righteous-
ness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world,
and eternal life in the world to come." (D & C 59:23.)
And so we are promised that happiness is peace, and
what is this peace? Is it mere rest from toil? Is it
escaping our responsibilities? No, this is not peace!
Peace is a deep and rich possession. It is not be-
cause we have material abundance that we have
happiness. It is not because of some superficial
pleasure, because of some outward experience, that
God grants us peace. But peace and happiness are
vibrant and joyful possessions of the inner being.
It was this peace that the Prophet Joseph felt when
he went from Nauvoo to Carthage, even as a lamb to
the slaughter. It was this peace that filled a pioneer
father as he entered Salt Lake Valley, having left
on the long trail from Illinois, a wife and three chil-
dren buried in unknown graves. It was this same
peace that filled the Savior as he stood after prayer in
Gethsemane, and faced with calm assurance the most
terrifying experience that has ever befallen any in-
dividual in the history of the world.
Because they obeyed
Is there anyone so foolish as to believe that such
peace, such eternal happiness as filled their hearts
was the result of some dissipating act? It was theirs
because they had obeyed, because true peace and true
happiness is the result of righteousness, and righteous-
ness only. The great Greek poet Horace wrote these
words: "Reason and sense remove anxiety, not houses
that look out over the sea. Why should we move to
find climates and countries of another kind, for what
exile can leave himself behind?"
As young people we face the most challenging
period in the history of the world, and if, as the youth
of Zion, we could learn one lesson today, would it
not be to learn what is true happiness, how to
attain it, how to keep it? Suppose our material pos-
sessions were taken from us, what would be the
source of our happiness then? If we have been wise,
our happiness will still be ours because it will be
within. It will have been the peace that God promised
those who serve him in righteousness.
One may ask, is there a formula for gaining such
happiness? Perhaps there is. For myself I have chosen
three statements by the Savior as guideposts along
my pathway to try to find (Continued on page 883)
824
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
In all gospel dispensations, the Lord has raised up
great prophets to direct his work upon the earth. Nine
men have thus been chosen in the "latter days." Each
has been especially qualified and trained to accomplish
the tasks required. All have devoted, without qualifica-
tion, their lives to the service of God and his people, and
God has walked with them all their days. These are the
"prophets, seers, and revelators" of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. In word and full-color pic-
ture The Improvement Era presents in the pages that
follow these nine men who have served as
The nine oil portraits reproduced herein were painted especially for
the Los Angeles Temple. The artists who painted the pictures upon assign-
ment from the Church are: Edward T. Grigware (The Prophet Joseph
Smith and President Brigham Young); Harris Weberg (Presidents John
Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow); Alvin Gittins (Presidents
Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, and David O.
McKay.) The written word is by Elder Gordon T. Alfred, with assistance
from other members of The Improvement Era staff.
Joseph Smith, the
Prophet of the restora-
tion, born December 23,
1805 at Sharon, Vermont;
first vision, spring 1820;
received Melchizedek
Priesthood 1829; organ-
ized the Church April 6,
1830; sustained January
25, 1832 as President of
the High Priesthood;
martyred June 27, 1844,
Carthage, Illinois.
A lofty polished granite shaft in the Green
Hills of Vermont and an aging headstone on
a hill overlooking the Mississippi River in Nau-
voo, Illinois, mark the birthplace and burial
place of Joseph Smith, Jr. Between these two
monuments, and encompassed in a short life
of less than four decades, is crowded such a
multitude of momentous events, impressive expe-
riences, and great deeds, that it seems incredible
that they could have happened to one individual
in such a short period of time.
But happen they did, and to Joseph Smith, the
American Prophet!
This was the man who Josiah Quincy, Mayor
of Boston, predicted in 1844 might be named by
future generations as the historical American of
the nineteenth century who has exerted the most
powerful influence upon the destinies of his
countrymen.
While still a boy of fourteen Joseph Smith
was visited by God the Father, and by his Son,
Jesus Christ, and told of the work he had been
chosen to do. Eight years of schooling followed,
during which time he was visited eight times
by a heavenly messenger. This left but sixteen
years of his earthly life.
In those sixteen years he translated the Book
of Mormon from ancient inscriptions on gold
plates; received revelations from heaven which
fill a 250 page book (the Doctrine and Cove-
nants), and part of another (the Book of Moses
in the Pearl of Great Price); translated some
writings of Abraham from one ancient record;
wrote a 3200 page history of himself and the
Church; and was visited and given instructions
and authority by the Savior, John the Baptist,
Peter, James and John, Moses, Elias, and Elijah.
All this added up to a restoration of the gos-
pel, which in turn brought answers to the major
questions of humanity— the true nature of God
and the Godhead, the truth about pre-earth
life and the creation of the world, the purpose
of mortality and the destiny of man, the mis-
sion of Jesus Christ, the true meaning of the
atonement and resurrection, and the nature of
eternity and eternal progression. In addition,
out of revelation came new truths concerning
the sacredness and eternal nature of the family
and marriage, freedom and free agency, a happy
society, the importance of education, and the
necessity of work for the dead.
During these same years he organized the
Church, set up an extensive missionary system,
built one temple and started another, built the
largest city in Illinois and became its mayor,
established a model city government, headed a
military organization, was a candidate for Presi-
dent of the United States, and planned the
westward migration of the Saints.
All this, and much more, he did in the face
of great adversity and relentless persecution.
Some forty-seven times he was arrested on false
charges and spent long months in jail. He sub-
mitted voluntarily to arrest on June 24, 1844,
which he knew would be his last. Three days
later a lawless mob brutally murdered him.
The Prophet was dead, but the true test of
his divinity was just beginning. Could the com-
bined forces of evil destroy the Church he had
established, the work he had started?
Fewer than 130 years have passed since the
Church was established, yet it has grown to a
million-and-a-half members, with world-wide
recognition and influence. More and more peo-
ple are recognizing the Prophet Joseph Smith's
greatness, and proclaiming his divinity. The
prediction of Mayor Quincy will yet come to
pass.
.
™**(fl^ffilBS|H^K;jjj
)
President B r i g h a m
Young, born June 1, 1801,
at Whitingham, Ver-
mont; ordained an apos-
tle February 14, 1835;
President of the Council
of the Twelve at the
death of the Prophet
Joseph Smith; sustained
as President of the
Church, December 27,
1847, Winter Quarters,
Nebraska; died August
29, 1877, Salt Lake City.
"""Mp** *BB|iy'
One fall evening in 1832, a man named Joseph
Smith uttered a prophecy. "The time will
come," he assured an earnest group of brethren,
"when Brigham Young will preside over this
Church." The prophecy seems especially sig-
nificant, since Joseph Smith and Brigham Young
had met for the first time that very day.
The thirty-one-year-old Brigham Young, how-
ever, was unaware of this prediction at the time,
unaware that it would be fulfilled in twelve
years following the martyrdom at Carthage and
the persecution at Nauvoo. Of this he was
aware: that Joseph Smith was a prophet, called
of God to restore the everlasting gospel.
Brigham Young had followed a rugged path
from his birth in 1801, in Vermont, to the gate of
baptism in the true Church. Back along that
path, he had received the guidance and love of
a spiritually-minded mother, Abigail Howe
Young, and of a righteous father, John Young,
a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He had
known the association of ten brothers and sisters,
some of whom later accepted the gospel. Along
that path, when he was only fourteen, his mother
died, and the entire Young family was dispersed,
"farmed out." He made his way alone from
then on, becoming at twenty-two a carpenter
on the Erie Canal. Shortly thereafter he mar-
ried Miriam Works.
It was several years later that he heard of
the "gold bible," and the Mormons, at Mendon,
New York. Mendon was a landmark. There,
on April 14, 1832, he was baptized and ordained
an elder. September of that year brought his
first visit with the Prophet in Kirtland, and the
portentous prophecy.
Following this historic meeting, the Smith-
Young friendship flourished, and within only
three years, February 1835, Elder Young was
ordained an apostle. Later, with the Prophet he
fled by night to Far West, Missouri, and then
went on alone to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he
strove to protect the Saints from mob ravage.
In April 1839, Brigham Young, so sick he
could scarcely stand, left his poverty-stricken
family for a mission to England. There, in
slightly over a year, he and other members of
the Twelve baptized between seven and eight
thousand converts.
Following the martyrdom, on August 7, 1844,
Elder Young assumed leadership of God's
Church on earth, and three years later, was
ordained its President.
To people within and without the Church, the
story of the Mormon pioneers is legend— their
flight from Nauvoo during the blasts of an 1846
winter, their back-breaking grind across a conti-
nent, fraught with sickness, death, and innu-
merable dangers. The march of the Mormon
Battalion, is remembered as a part of those
trials.
Brigham Young's pronouncement upon view-
ing the vast valley and the Great Salt Lake
beyond, July 24, 1847, is readily quoted by both
Mormon children and adults: "This is the
place!"
When in 1850, Utah was made a territory,
Brigham Young became governor, and the fol-
lowing years though arduous, were ones of
growth. The Salt Lake Temple was begun and
additional colonies started. During a span of
thirty years, President Young directed the spir-
itual upbuilding of God's Kingdom, pioneered
the unmapped wilderness, built temples, a tab-
ernacle, a theater, roads, railways, established
irrigation in the Rockies, and colonized some two
hundred settlements with over 100,000 in-
habitants.
Following a brief illness, on August 29, 1877,
the Church's second President died. A moment
before his passing, like Stephen of old, he stared
"steadfastly into heaven," and seemed to have
glimpsed someone waiting. "J0SePn> Joseph,
Joseph," came the final words. Brigham Young
upheld the confidence. He had fulfilled his
obligation.
■■.:■■'■■■.' ' .'-' ''. .
1%,
99
President John Taylor,
born November 1, 1808,
at Milnthorpe, England;
joined the Church in
Canada; ordained an
apostle December 19,
1838; with the Prophet
Joseph at martyrdom;
sustained President of the
Church October 10, 1880;
died July 25, 1887, Kays-
ville, Utah.
Jay "TBT ""W?
ohn Taylor
At sixteen minutes and twenty-six seconds
past five p.m., June 27, 1844, a shot was fired
which may have saved a life, and helped deter-
mine who would be the third President of the
Church. On a torpid summer afternoon, violence
exploded, and some of the Church's most dra-
matic history was made. The place: Carthage
Jail, Illinois; the event: the martyrdom of the
Prophet Joseph Smith.
There were four men in the jail's upper story
when a mob closed in and began firing. One
of the four had fallen wounded across a win-
dow sill and was actually toppling out, when
something hurled him back into the room. It
was a lead ball, fired from outside, which struck
a watch in his breastpocket.
The man was John Taylor. When he was
born November 1, 1808, in Milnthorpe, England,
his parents, James and Agnes, would have been
astounded and frightened had they foreseen the
dramatic future awaiting him. Certainly his
early years as a barrelmaker and a wood turner
portended nothing of what was to come.
Had it not been for his voyage to Canada at
twenty-two, John Taylor might have plied the
same obscure trade all his days. Possibly he
never would have heard of a "curious" people
called the "Mormons" nor they of him.
Following John's marriage to Leonora Can-
non in Toronto, Canada, he became interested
in the missionary teachings of Elder Parley
Pratt. An active but discontented Methodist,
he began an assiduous examination of the re-
stored gospel, and on May 9, 1836, both he and
his wife were baptized. Shortly afterward, he
was ordained an elder.
From then on, the once placid Taylor life was
altered, the changes coming at a rapid pace. A
few months after his conversion, he was placed
in charge of all the branches in upper Canada.
A year later the Prophet called him to Kirtland,
Ohio, and in 1838, he was ordained an apostle.
Whether the tall, well-built Englishman had
fully anticipated what lay in store, no one knows.
Radically uprooted from a life of comparative
solitude, he was suddenly cast into the fervid
heat of persecution, weighed down with tre-
mendous obligations.
Shortly after arriving in America, the Taylor
family fled to Illinois to escape mob violence.
With scant time to settle, ill and threadbare,
Elder Taylor prepared to leave on a mission for
England with others of the twelve. Upon his
return, having been blessed with great success,
he undertook important journalistic pursuits for
the Church, a job for which he was well suited.
New Year's, 1844, saw John Taylor prosperous
and happy. June of that same year found him
critically wounded on the floor of Carthage
Jail, four bullets in his body. But the Lord
had plans for John Taylor. Even before his
wounds had healed, he was meeting with the
twelve, performing his labors as an apostle.
In following years, he journeyed again to
England, returned, and followed Brigham Young
westward, leading a second band of pioneers
with Parley P. Pratt. Then came missions to
France and Germany, and the Eastern States.
Twenty years of intense religious and civic
activity followed in Utah, and on August 29,
1877, at the death of Brigham Young, John
Taylor as President of the Twelve began di-
recting the activities of God's Church. He was
sustained as President of the Church in October
1880.
Between the time of his baptism and his pass-
ing on July 25, 1887— forty-one years— John
Taylor had given his entire soul to work of the
kingdom, demonstrating his courage, selflessness,
and love in countless ways— boldly facing rabid
mobs, giving liberally of all he owned to those
in need, and attacking every problem whether
physical, mental, or spiritual with an almost
awesome zeal.
■.. ' ..., •• : .....
." . v:
Wutord Woodruff
President W i 1 f o r d
Woodruff, born March 1,
1807, at Avon, Connecti-
cut; ordained an apostle,
April 26, 1839; one of the
Church's great missionary
leaders; sustained Presi-
dent of the Church April
7, 1889; died September
2, 1898, San Francisco,
California.
One wonders if the pages of history contain
many accounts more incredible than the series
of near tragedies that befell young Wilford
Woodruff between his third and seventeenth
birthdays. In separate accidents he fell into a
caldron of scalding water and fell from the top
of a barn; broke arms falling down stairs and
from a lumber pile; narrowly escaped being
gored by a bull and was kicked in the abdomen
by an ox; broke a leg in a sawmill and another
when thrown from a wild horse; was buried by
an overturned load of hay and had to be rescued
from thirty feet of water; was blinded in a snow-
storm; split a foot open with an ax; and was
attacked by a mad dog. And, in later years,
he narrowly escaped being crushed by a falling
tree.
Truly, it would seem that some power tried
to prevent Wilford Woodruff from fulfilling his
earthly calling. Conversely, it would also seem
that a greater power did want him to; otherwise,
he might never have survived. Strangely enough,
Wilford Woodruff, who became the fourth
President of the Church, lived to be ninety-one.
Wilford Woodruff was born March 1, 1807,
in Farmington (now Avon), Connecticut, the
third son of Aphek and Beulah Woodruff. For
twenty years this sturdy lad toiled with his hands,
farming and working in a sawmilj. Along the
way, he learned to read and write competently
and familiarized himself with the Bible, his
favorite book.
It was at Richland, New York, in 1833 that
he heard the gospel, was converted, and bap-
tized in ice-choked waters on the final day
of that year. That spring he met the Prophet
Joseph and his brother Hyrum in Kirtland, Ohio.
Swiftly to recognize and accept the Prophet
for what he was, Wilford Woodruff now dedi-
cated himself and all that he owned to the up-
building of God's kingdom, and from thenceforth,
for many years he was on the move, preaching
the gospel. During his first mission in the
Southern States, he was beset three times by
mobs, and was even followed by wolves.
Just one month after his marriage to Phoebe
Carter, in 1837, he was off on an important
mission to the northeast. During the following
summer he received word from Missouri that
the Lord had called him to the apostleship, and
on April 26, 1839, he was thus ordained.
Arriving with others in England in January
1840, he found the field white and ready for
harvest. After eight months' labor, eighteen
hundred people were brought into the Church.
Certainly, Wilford Woodruff is among the great-
est missionaries the Church has ever known.
Other missions followed, and in 1847, he ac-
companied the first band of Saints westward,
and heard Brigham Young proclaim, "This is
the place." (It is his personal diary that has
given us much of the history of the soul-stirring
events of that period.) Once established in
Utah, his labors became even more intense;
touring outlying settlements, working on the
temple, building dwellings, farming, placing his
experience and drive behind the Church and
civic projects.
Following the death of John Taylor, Wilford
Woodruff was sustained as President of the
Church at the April 1889 conference. In April
1893 he dedicated the Salt Lake Temple, having
watched its development during its entire forty
years of construction.
President Woodruff died on September 2,
1898 in San Francisco.
President Lorenzo
Snow, born April 3, 1814,
at Mantua, Ohio; or-
dained an apostle Febru-
ary 12, 1849; sustained
as President of the
Church September 13,
1898. In the three years
of his presidency he re-
converted the member-
ship to the principle of
tithing; died October 10,
1901, Salt Lake City.
On a mountainside above the city of Pied-
mont, Italy, a young man knelt in prayer.
There in the Alps, for six hours he humbly and
stedfastly petitioned the Lord for the answer to
a crucial question. When the long hours had
terminated, he arose with an expression of
radiant conviction, left the mountainside, and
entered the home of a man named Grey. There
he placed his hands upon the head of a dying
child and pronounced a blessing. Almost in-
stantly the child was healed, as God had prom-
ised in answer to the prayer on the mountain-
side. Through that manifestation of divine
power, the gospel was introduced to Italy.
Lorenzo Snow, then only thirty-six, had come
a long way since his birth at Mantua, Ohio,
April 3, 1814— not only geographically, but also
physically, intellectually, and spiritually. He
was an apostle of the true Church, valiant in the
sight of his Heavenly Father.
As in the case of his great predecessors, formal
education was not easily come by for Lorenzo
Snow, even though his thirst for learning was
insatiable. It was while journeying to Oberlin
College as a young man that he met Apostle
David W. Patten and was stirred by his testi-
mony. Later, when an older sister, Eliza R.,
invited him to meet the Prophet at Kirtland, he
readily accepted.
In June 1836, he entered the waters of baptism,
but it was not until two or three weeks after
his confirmation that the Holy Ghost was mani-
fest in the manner he desired. When its pres-
ence was truly felt, he was filled with an in-
effable joy, a strengthening of testimony, and
an overwhelming knowledge that "Jesus Christ
is the Son of God."
With such a testimony, it was natural that
Elder Snow should begin carrying the gospel to
the world. In 1840, he was called to labor in
England, where his efforts were greatly blessed.
Following his return four years later, he was
called to disseminate the Prophet's "Views of
the Powers and Policy of the Government of
the United States," to the people of Ohio.
February 12, 1849, Lorenzo was asked to at-
tend a meeting of the Council of the Twelve, in
Salt Lake City, and was nearly overwhelmed to
learn that he had been selected as an apostle.
In October of that year he began a mission to
Italy, and while journeying across the plains
to embark from New York, Elder Snow and his
companions experienced some of the most re-
markable manifestations of God's power ever
recorded.
Although deep snows covered the plains, the
wind continually swept a path before them.
Once an Indian war party of two hundred
rushed upon the small band of elders, intent
on destroying them, only to be abruptly halted,
"as an avalanche sweeping down the mountain-
side, stops in the midst of its course by a hand
unseen." When they arrived at the Missouri
River, "her waters immediately congealed [froze
solid] for the first time during the season, thus
forming a bridge over which we passed to the
other side; this was no sooner accomplished
than the torrent ran as before."
Following his return from Italy and a second
mission to Hawaii, Lorenzo developed a series
of splendid co-operative enterprises within the
Church, including among other things, a tannery,
wool factory, sheep and stock herds, and a dairy.
Later came a mission to Europe, and the Holy
Land which he dedicated and consecrated to the
return of the Jews.
Lorenzo Snow was sustained President of the
Church September 13, 1898, a position he held
until his death, October 10, 1901.
A floral offering at his funeral bore the words,
"As God Is Man May Be," reminiscent of a
revelation he had once received— an exalting
promise to all mankind, a symbol of that divine
light he had ever walked toward.
mm
■■.■■>:.■■■■■■.■■:■■.■•-.■.'.■ ■/■:■,. y <■;.:
■ ■ ■. ■ ■ ... ■:■■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ . ■■
President Joseph F.
Smith, born November
13, 1838, at Far West,
Missouri; ordained an
apostle July 1, 1866;
sustained as President of
the Church October 17,
1901; first to travel ex-
tensively in Europe and
South Seas as President;
died, November 19, 1918,
Salt Lake City.
Josep
ISmitti
Joseph F. Smith, son of Hyrum and Mary
Fielding Smith, was born in the very furnace of
persecution. At the time of his birth, November
13, 1838, at Far West, Missouri, his father and
the Prophet Joseph Smith were languishing in
chains at Richmond, having narrowly escaped
death by a firing squad. Alone, sick, and appre-
hensive, with a large family to care for, Mary
Fielding brought forth her son— one who would
play such a significant part in Church history.
Many years later, addressing a small group of
Saints, Joseph F. Smith said emotionally, "I can
much easier weep for joy than for sorrow. I
suppose perhaps it is due to some extent to the
fact that all my early remembrances were painful
and sorrowful." And truly, they could not have
been otherwise. From his earliest infancy, he
had felt the scourge of hatred. As a child he
had nearly been smothered in his own home by
wicked men. He had bid his father and "Uncle
Joseph," good-bye on that fateful June day in
1844, had watched them disappear with the other
brethren along the road to Carthage. On a dark
summer night, he had heard a knock on the
window, followed by the words, "Sister Smith,
your husband has been killed!" He remembered
well the screams and the wailing that sounded
through the long, leaden hours.
He remembered the trip west with his
widowed mother, the harshness of the wagon
captain when she would not permit her nine-
year-old son to stand night guard duty and
perform the duties of a grown man. Poignantly,
he recalled how less than five years later, his
mother died in Salt Lake City, leaving him alone,
but leaving a legacy of wondrous courage and
faith.
The life surrounding Joseph F. Smith was not
one for a timid soul. He was being cast in
the refiner's fire, to become a sterling instru-
ment in God's hands. At only fifteen, already
tall, muscular, and stalwart in the faith, he was
called to the Sandwich Islands Mission, where
he served for four years. Upon his return he
enlisted in the "legion" to defend his people
against Johnston's Army.
In 1859 he was called to labor in England. On
this mission he began gaining acclaim as an elo-
quent and powerful public speaker. Following
this mission, he visited branches throughout
Europe, and returned at twenty-two a world
traveler and an experienced missionary.
At about this time, he was employed in the
Church Historian's Office, and at twenty-seven,
was ordained an apostle. Having attained that
holy calling, he rededicated his life and from
that time forward was totally absorbed in
promulgating the gospel. Important among his
labors were two periods of presidency over the
European Mission, and a special mission to the
Eastern States to obtain historical information
about the Church. Most significant of all, of
course, was his appointment as Church President
at sixty-two, on October 17, 1901.
During President Smith's administration many
buildings were constructed, and the Church was
entirely cleared of debt. "Get out of debt; keep
out of debt; never mortgage your homes nor your
farms," was his oft-repeated admonition.
Four times during his Presidency, Elder Smith
traveled to Hawaii, and in 1915, dedicated the
temple site at Laie. "Neat, methodical, diligent,
wise, loving . , ." such epithets characterize the
prophet, Joseph F. Smith, during his eighty years
on this earth.
He passed from this life on November 19, 1918.
President Heber J.
Grant, born November
22, 1856 at Salt Lake
City; ordained an apostle
October 16, 1882; sus-
tained President of the
Church November 23,
1918; served as President
longer than any Presi-
dent, except President
Young; died, May 14,
1945, Salt Lake City.
Heber J. Grant
Great purpose and determination guided the
life of Heber J. Grant, son of Jedediah M. and
Rachel Ridgeway Ivins Grant. Such dedication,
directed toward righteous ends as it was, helped
qualify him as a prophet of the Lord, and as
seventh President of the Church.
The mighty will to achieve was manifest early
in Heber J. Grant's life— sometimes in humorous
and even ironical ways. A neighbor, for exam-
ple, referred to him as "the laziest boy in the
Thirteenth Ward," because the lad spent hours
each day throwing a baseball at his barn. What
the neighbor did not realize was the motive be-
hind this rather curious action. Lacking physi-
cal stamina in his early years, he had been
belittled and called a "sissy," by his baseball
companions. "So much fun was engendered on
my account," he said, "that I solemnly vowed
that I would play baseball in the nine that would
win the championship of the Territory of Utah."
Through sheer persistence, he made good the
promise to himself, and having done so, "retired
from the baseball arena."
More significant goals were sought and at-
tained during President Grant's life, but all his
efforts were characterized by the same sense of
dogged, unflinching determination. As a youth,
he aspired to be a bookkeeper for Wells Fargo.
He not only obtained the job, but also labored
with such enthusiasm and diligence as to delight
his employer, establishing an excellent reputation.
When he was only a child, his mother at-
tempted to teach him singing but failed com-
pletely because he simply could not carry a
tune. A music teacher did no better. As he
grew older, however, he was determined to
learn the art of singing at any cost. Under the
proper tutelage he finally learned to sing church
hymns in a passable manner, and on one occa-
sion astonished and nearly exhausted two travel-
ing companions by singing over one-hundred
hymns in a single day.
More important than all these things was the
way in which he qualified himself as a servant
of God. At only twenty-four, three years after
his marriage to Lucy Stringham, he became a
stake president. His account of struggling to
become a public speaker— the agonizing times
when he stood at the pulpit scarcely able to
force words from his throat, his weeping in a
secluded field, with shame and humiliation, and
his ultimate triumph— is an inspiring example
of achievement.
" 'Never despair' has been one of the guiding
stars of my life," he once remarked. Perhaps no
single event strengthened this philosophy in his
own mind or lent stronger realization to his own
calling as an apostle than a revelation he received
in the wilderness at twenty-five. While alone
in the wilds, it was manifested powerfully to
him that his calling was in part a fulfilment of
the desires of his own father and the Prophet
Joseph Smith in the next world.
As with the great Church leaders preceding
him, Heber J. Grant served important missions.
Notable were his opening the doors of the gospel
to Japan, and his presidency to the European
Mission.
November 23, 1918, Heber J. Grant was called
to preside over the Church until his death May
14, 1945. His life was succinctly and accurately
summed up by President David O. McKay when
he said, "Persevering in accomplishment, sincere,
honest, upright in all his dealings, positive in
expression, dynamic in action, uncompromising
with evil, sympathetic with the unfortunate,
magnanimous in the highest degree, faithful in
life to every trust, tender and considerate of
loved ones, loyal to friends, to truth, and to
God— such was our beloved President."
President George Al-
bert Smith, born April 4,
1870, at Salt Lake City;
ordained an apostle Oc-
tober 8, 1903; sustained
President of the Church
May 21, 1945; died on
his eighty-first birthday,
April 4, 1951, Salt Lake
City.
i •wPflY'CfP /\/hpYf~ S^Ttiifh
The banker was shocked. He spoke in blunt
terms. Imagine a man in George Albert Smith's
position wanting to mortgage his home to re-
habilitate a seemingly hopeless alcoholic.
The alcoholic, however, wasn't hopeless so
far as George Albert Smith was concerned.
Elder Smith had faith that the man could be
rescued from his wretched state, that, for all
his weakness, he was important in God's sight,
that he had great spiritual potential. Elder
Smith, a paragon of spirituality and selflessness
himself, staked nearly all he owned on that testi-
mony, and despite the banker's adamant disap-
proval, the home was mortgaged.
The change didn't come in a day, not in many
days. But, the man was redeemed. He over-
came his problem and went on to become one
of the great youth leaders in the Church.
George Albert Smith, eighth President of the
Church, had love for his earthly brothers and
sisters, and love for his Heavenly Father, a
Father whom he communed with all his days.
The son of John Henry and Sarah Farr Smith,
George Albert was born in Salt Lake City, April
4, 1870. Following the steps of his father and
grandfather, he likewise became an apostle, and
greater still— the prophet, seer, and revelator
of the Church. Because of this noble heritage,
Elder Smith was ever mindful of his obliga-
tion to honor the illustrious name of Smith. He
was the third by that surname to become Church
President.
The fall of 1891 found Elder Smith under-
taking his first real missionary work, laboring
in behalf of the MIA in Juab, Millard, Beaver,
and Parowan stakes. The following year he was
married to Lucy Emily Woodruff. His second
mission took him to the Southern States, after
which he was selected to head the YMMIA or-
ganization of Salt Lake Stake.
At the October conference, 1903, he was ap-
pointed to the apostleship— fulfilment of a prom-
ise made in his patriarchal blessing years before.
Like all of the Church Presidents before him,
from Brigham Young on, he served a mission to
England, where he established himself more
firmly than ever as a staunch servant of his
Father in heaven.
Less than three months before the end of
World War II, May 21, 1945, Elder Smith was
sustained President of the Church, and thus he
remained until his peaceful passing on his eighty-
first birthday, April 4, 1951 in Salt Lake City.
In addition to his intense religious activities,
President Smith was extremely active in civic
affairs. His many offices and honors included:
President of the International Irrigation Con-
gress and International Dry Farm Congress,
Federal Receiver of Public Moneys and Special
Disbursing Agent for Utah. He received the
Silver Buffalo award for "outstanding service to
boyhood," the highest award in scouting. Under
President Smith's leadership over one hundred
historic monuments and markers have been
erected from Nauvoo, Illinois to California, most
prominent of which was the "This Is the Place"
monument at the mouth of Emigration Canyon.
In addition, he was one of aviation's outstanding
pioneers, and served for a time as director of
Western Air Express, now Western Airlines.
President Smith was a man without guile, of
warm and gentle humor, a man willing to point
out his own failings in order to instruct others
or save them undue embarrassment. One of his
favorite scriptures, the fourth section of the
Doctrine and Covenants, contains the words,
". . . faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, pa-
tience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity,
humility, diligence." And these words, which
he so cherished, for all they implied, became not
only the pattern, but part of the fabric of
George Albert Smith.
.■■.■.■■
' :-..".'. . '■
f s
President David O.
McKay, born September
8, 1873 at Huntsville,
Utah; ordained an apos-
tle April 9, 1906; sus-
tained President of the
Church April 9, 1951; has
dedicated four temples,
traveled more than a half
million miles as apostle
and President
Eighty-five years of earth life is a long time
according to man's reckoning. In the last eighty-
five years nations have risen and fallen; mighty
vistas of scientific progress have been unveiled.
Leaders, great and small, righteous and wicked
have gone to their reward, and the kingdom
has rolled forth. All these things and many more
have passed before the eyes of broad-shouldered,
silver-haired David O. McKay.
Through eyes that have witnessed so much,
our prophet, seer, and revelator has recently
gazed back along the ever-widening wake of his
life and glimpsed at the sunlit waters:
"If I named the blessings I have at eighty-five
I would list health, sweet memories, joy in labor,
faith in God and his goodness, an unselfish de-
sire to serve and bless his children, loyal friends,
brotherhood, and the companionship and love of
loved ones— and the assurance that these cher-
ished loved ones may be ours, always and for-
ever." Such are his blessings— all in accordance
to a law "irrevocably decreed in heaven before
the foundations of the earth."
At fourscore and five, two decades after many
men retire, President McKay continues to carry
the weight of his calling with a straight back
and a stedfast zeal that is simultaneously hum-
ble and unobtrusive. While others bide life's
twilight hours to the resigned creak of a rocking
chair, President McKay arises 'at dawn to meet
countless obligations and continues to traverse
the earth dedicating temples and houses of wor-
ship, preaching this gospel of the kingdom,
bringing hope and joy to the souls of his brothers
and sisters.
Such a man scarcely has time to live in the
past. Eternity with all its joys and blessings
lies ahead. But still, the prophet of this Church
must feel a happy yet poignant nostalgia each
time he sights the waters of Pine View, and the
far fields of Huntsville, Utah— hillsides below a
tabletop mountain, land where the wheat stands
amber in the sun of late afternoon, where
the hay lies sweet and pungent in the cool of
evening, when the crab apples are turning. For
there is the home of his boyhood, a hallowed
home, often silent and empty now, faintly echo-
ing the bygone days, and the memories.
September 8, 1873, David O. McKay was born,
the first son of David and Jennette Evans McKay.
In that home he learned the precepts of the
gospel and, from parental example, the godly
life. He gained his thirst for wisdom and his
first interest in great literature, which has be-
come so important a part of his life. In Hunts-
ville, Utah, he not only developed a love for his
fellow man but also for animals, the soil, and
the things it grew.
The same Huntsville school which President
McKay attended as a boy, he later presided over
before attending the University of Utah, where
he became a football player, president, and
valedictorian of his class. Then came a mission
to Scotland and following his marriage to Emma
Ray Riggs, the principalship of Weber Academy.
Memories, expressions, a few general facts . . .
these are all that can be included in a page,
when volumes are inadequate. Of importance
among his endless accomplishments and offices
was his ordination as an apostle in 1906, his
assignment in 1921 to visit Church missions
throughout the world, his presidency over the
European Mission, his service from 1934 in the
councils of the First Presidency. He was sus-
tained President of the Church April 9, 1951.
Thus he stands, our prophet, seer, and reve-
lator, in the month of November, 1958. In the
words of Elder Richard L. Evans:
"May he have wisdom and guidance and in-
spiration, and strength and health and endurance,
equal to every decision and demand that faces
him in these difficult times."
"■" ■ •'.: ,■
Prophets Are
Foreordained
by Joseph Fielding Smith
President of the Council of the Twelve
In the far-distant past before the foundations of this earth
were laid, a grand council was held in heaven. At that council
plans were perfected and an organization formed for the gov-
ernment of this earth during its mortal probation. Our Eternal
Father, knowing the end from the beginning, chose from among
the spirits those to be his rulers and prophets to assist in carrying
through his eternal purposes on this earth in relation to the final
destiny of men. All this the Lord revealed to Abraham, who
declared that among these assembled spirits were "many of the
noble and great ones."
And God saw these souls that they were good, and
he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will
make my rulers; for he stood among those that were
spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto
me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen
before thou wast born. (Pearl of Great Price, Abraham
3:23.)
Abraham was not the only prophet thus selected before he
was born. Similar information is recorded of Jeremiah and other
prophets, and we have good reason to believe that all the proph-
ets were likewise called and foreordained.
In this grand council, Michael was chosen to come as the
progenitor of the human family and to bring mortality into the
world. Jesus Christ was chosen to come in the Meridian of Time
to redeem man from the mortal state, and, on condition of re-
pentance and faithfulness to the eternal plan, to extend redemp-
tion from individual sin. Abraham was appointed to become
the "father of the faithful," and the founder of the house of
Israel. Moses was chosen to lead Israel from Egyptian bondage,
and Joseph Smith to stand at the head of the greatest of all
dispensations, that of the Fulness of Times.
In this grand council, we are informed, "the morning stars
sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy," because
they were to receive the privilege of coming to this earth and
partake of all the vicissitudes of mortality, fraught with such
glorious and momentous possibilities.
Speaking of the appointment of Joseph Smith in this grand
council, President Brigham Young has said:
It was decreed in the councils of eternity, long before
the foundations of the earth were laid, that he, Joseph
Smith, should be the man, in the last dispensation of this
world, to bring forth the word of God to the people,
and receive the fulness of the keys and power of the
Priesthood of the Son of God. (Journal of Discourses
7:289.)
From The Improvement Era, Vol. 44, p. 716.
TALL COUNTRY
You hit the high spots when you cross the Sierra by day
on S. P.'s famous San Francisco Overland to California.
Inspiring scenery looms on all sides, while inside you
enjoy comfortable, lazy-does-it train travel, Pullman
or Chair Car. Fine meals and refreshments, and room
for plenty of hand baggage, free. The Overland east-
bound goes to Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis.
TALL FREIGHT
"Hr-ir-
uttttil u-.i ai„ n,n— IB
Massive freight shipments now enjoy dependable, safe
rail movement via S. P., thanks to our depressed center
flatcars. Recently we built twenty of these cars at our
own freight -car assembly line in Houston. It was the
largest number ever built at one time by a U. S. railroad
— and a good example, we think, of how S. P tries to
help shippers with ever better and broader services.
Southern
Pacific
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NOVEMBER 1958
845
Part 1/
Preliminaries
to the Restoration
by Milton V. Backman, Jr.
Swnmary of Part I: Before the gospel of Jesus Christ
could have been promulgated successfully, religious
toleration had to be a reality, and the orthodox,
medieval theology had to be liberalized. Favorable
conditions for a restoration did not prevail during the
Middle Ages or the sixteenth century. The reformers
were unable, through their rationalization, to restore
the gospel; and they did not sponsor religious tolera-
tion. They merely attempted to purify the church
but without direct assistance from God. At that time,
Christians were not prepared to accept a radical de-
parture from their traditional beliefs. The conditions
which existed in the world prior to the eighteenth
century reveal that had the Restored Church been
established, it would have probably remained in an
isolated status, and missionaries would not have been
able to spread effectively the message of Christ among
men. However, the developments of the eighteenth
century created favorable conditions for the restora-
tion and prepared the people for the acceptance of
the correct teachings of our Savior.
After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, a century of
investigation, of rationalization, and enlightened think-
ing occurred. The spirit of this age was evident not
only by an increase in the investigation of physical
phenomena but also by the extensive search into re-
ligious beliefs. During the Age of Enlightenment,
an eighteenth century reformation (or it could also
be named the Second Reformation) vexed the minds
of many Christians. The zeal for perfection stimu-
lated the intellects to embrace a program of reform of
the orthodox beliefs which the Protestants had in-
herited from the medieval church. In this age, as in
the previous two centuries, men attempted to purify
religion and restore what they considered was the
truth. However, the ecclesiastical priming produced
a century of bitter controversy, and Christianity itself
was placed on trial. After approximately fourteen
centuries of rigid intolerance, Christianity was sub-
jected to its first modern critique by reason under a
relative degree of freedom of discussion.
One of the chief controversies that developed cen-
tered about the Trinity, and free thinkers rationalized
that it was inconsistent to believe that the Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost were one in body. They argued
that one, plus one, plus one produced the sum of
three and not one as "orthodox" Christians continued
to assert. Consequently, Christianity's traditional God
was subjected to a cross-examination for the first time
since the Arian heresy had been crushed in the early
Middle Ages. Immediately, the charge of atheism
846
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
and scepticism was hoisted on all those who today
would merely be called healthy religious inquirers.1
But the spirit of opposition did not silence these re-
formers any more than it put a cessation to the work
of Calvin or Luther. Their influence increased, and
their investigation into Protestant beliefs was extended
to include other traditional doctrines. The infallibility
and all-inclusive nature of the Bible was challenged;
the doctrine of heaven and hell was revised; Calvin-
istic ideas of original sin and predestination were
replaced by the concept of the free agency of man;
the doctrine of the creation, as interpreted by the
average Christian, fell under disrepute by scientific-
minded scholars; and the concept was popularized
that all men were to be judged according to their
works. These reformers also sought to enhance the
intellectual climate by sponsoring educational pro-
grams; and then, they took effective command of the
fight to eliminate state churches and establish com-
plete religious freedom.
Since Deism, the religion of the enlightenment, was
mainly confined to a small group of intellects, this
philosophy did not reach the masses to the degree
attained by the sixteenth century leaders. It is further
evident that their rational thinking led many Chris-
tians to reject the writings of Paul, to denounce the
miracles of Christ, and turn from the acceptance of
the Savior to a belief in one God who never inter-
fered in the affairs of man. But these cankerous
blemishes in their beliefs do not eliminate their con-
tributions to humanity. Since the sixteenth century
reformers also erred in doctrines, the leading
eighteenth century rationalists stimulated the process
of correcting the misconception in the Protestant
churches. Patriots and Deists such as Benjamin
Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison were
influential Americans who indirectly promoted the
liberalization of the Christian theology. In harmony
with the contributions of the leaders of the enlighten-
ment, Christians continually grew more sympathetic
toward original ideas and provocative philosophies
and cautiously loosened their tenacious hold on tra-
ditional concepts.
The leaders of the enlightenment also proudly wit-
nessed the manifestation of their ideals by the estab-
lishment of religious freedom in this country and
(See page 883 for footnotes.)
other nations. At the same time that Americans were
incorporating the philosophy of natural rights to sup-
port their move for independence, the liberals and
dissenters were uniting politically to establish natural
religious rights for all citizens. During the Ameri-
can Revolution, the Anglican establishments were
crushed; and in 1786, Virginia became the first state
in the modern world to provide by self-imposed
statute complete religious freedom for all denomina-
tions. In this same decade the spirit of peace and
toleration was extended to the dissenters of New
England, and the principle of religious liberty was
included in the First Amendment to the Constitution.
As the nineteenth century was ushered in, a new
wave of religious fervor swept America. Protestants,
in an attempt to arrest the declining status of Chris-
tianity suffered by the impact of enlightenment,
promoted a wave of vigorous revivals and the second
great awakening became a reality. Converts poured
into the churches. The revival spirit spread rapidly;
and in the West the camp meeting developed as an
effective institution to arouse souls to accept Christ.
Crowds numbering in the thousands gathered to lis-
ten to the ardent preachers that prolonged their serv-
ices for days. Some of the zealots in attendance were
ignited into action by the enthusiastic sermons and
began rolling, jerking, crying, shouting, and demon-
strating their emotional aspirations through a variety
of physical demonstrations. Even though the major-
ity who emerged from the fires of the great awakening
were satisfied with the existing religions, a few were
discontent, and began seeking religious truths outside
the pale of orthodoxy. Seekers were plentiful, and the
augmentation of the spirit of inquiry and the estab-
lishment of religious freedom fostered the rapid rise
of a multitude of radical sects. The Shaker, the
Rappite, and Amana communities were among the
religions nurtured in this new environment. These
movements were inaugurated across the Atlantic; and
when the leaders of these sects brought their followers
to America, their societies attracted numerous con-
verts. The doctrines accepted by these Christians
reveal striking similarities; for all believed that their
influential leaders, who attempted to restore primi-
tive Christianity, received revelations. The followers
of these prophets (or as in the case of the Shakers,
the prophetess, Mother Ann Lee) abandoned their
NOVEMBER 1958
847
literal interpretation of the Bible and replaced it by
the revealed word. These Christians also awaited
eagerly the approaching millennium and courageously
prepared themselves for the second coming. In their
attempts to purify themselves, they organized into
communal societies where they benevolently shared
the fruits of their labors. Their extremism was further
accentuated by their alterations of the prevailing atti-
tudes toward marriage, for the Rappites and Shakers
advocated celibacy, and the members of the Amana
community frowned upon the procreation of the
human race. Increase in their sects resulted from con-
versions of Protestants, and the fact that the millen-
nium was right at hand eliminated the necessity of
raising children to continue their work.
The fervent attitude toward the approaching millen-
nium is also evident by the rise of the Millerites.
Even though the evangelists of that generation had
continued to proclaim the strong Puritan belief of a
millennium, William Miller won followers by an-
nouncing the exact date of Christ's coming. By an ex-
amination of the scriptures, he fixed the year of the
second advent at 1843; and, in 1831, he began his
mission to warn the people of the United States of the
approaching end of the world. His prophecy was not
fulfilled, but from his activities emerged, in 1846, the
Seventh Day Adventists.2
Meanwhile, in New England, the strength of the
Congregational Church was being sapped by the
sudden popularity of the Unitarians. That the en-
lightenment extended its influence to the nineteenth
century generation is clearly evident by the con-
victions adopted by these Christians. In this period
the Unitarians accepted the Bible but rejected the idea
of the infallibility of the scriptures and believed in
emnloying reason as the basis of their interpretation
of the Word of God. They believed that Jesus was the
Son of God, but not the same as God, that he was
divine, but distinct and inferior to his Father. They
rejected the doctrines of original sin, predestination,
election, and hell; and they supported the concept of
free agency and judgment according to one's works.3
By sponsoring these unorthodox views and controlling
the Divinity School at Harvard they became an influ-
ential body in liberalizing Calvinism. This trend was
transported into the Congregational and Presbyterian
churches where ministers began to reinterpret their
beliefs. Numerous Christians reconsidered traditional
beliefs, and a period of social unrest and continued
controversy paralleled the rise of the reformed
Christianity.
At the same time the liberal sects were flourishing,
many Protestants were leading a crusade aimed against
the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The temper-
ance leaders passionately spelled out the physical and
social ills created by liquor and pleaded for immedi-
ate abstinence. Clergy cried from their pulpits:
"Drinking is an abominable sin and must be eradi-
cated before Christ will reappear." Temperance
societies were organized and revival techniques were
employed to reform Christians and purify society.
Other Americans not only pleaded for total abstinence
but also centered their reform in the use of tobacco,
tea, coffee, sifted flour, and meat. Sylvester Graham, a
Presbyterian minister and leader of the physiological
reform movement, also recommended the abundant
assumption of fruits and vegetables; and advocated
the unorthodox opinion that man should bathe three
times a week, even during the winter months, and
should open bedroom windows at night for ventila-
tion. This era was not only an age of reform in men's
diets, but also a period when men fervently attempted
to alter the morals of the iniquitous, when Sabbath
day societies proclaimed the need to return to the
OLD HOME
by Leone E. McCune
I walked today where Father walked
Along the path from house to barn,
Now overgrown with weeds and grass.
On either side where gardens grew,
Pink clover blooms in wild profusion.
Red barns stand sagging and decayed.
The doors are barred, and through cracked panes
I see the empty bins and stalls.
Here all is silence now. His work is done.
I turned to find great trees had cast
Their lengthened shadows on the path,
And summer's sweetness filled the air.
This place because of him will be
Forever hallowed, ever blest.
I paused and felt his presence there!
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Puritan observance of the Lord's
day, and when abolition societies in-
creased in fervor. The zeal for re-
form was carried into nearly every
phase of American life, and the
decades of the early nineteenth
century were years when humani-
tarian and social reforms proceeded
from the stages of planning to active
accomplishments. Historians, in
summarizing this age, have often
employed the term, the age of ro-
manticism. Extremism, immediat-
ism, radicalism, and emotionalism
are words that writers have con-
tinually applied to characterize the
intellectual climate of the generation
that plunged this nation into the
Civil War. It was the youth of this
same generation that witnessed the
accumulation of religious enthusiasm
and the establishment of numerous
communal societies in western New
York. In this burned-over district, a
storm center for religious activity and
an infected region of habitual re-
vivalism, Americans first experienced
the impact of Mormonism upon the
historical scene.4 The preliminaries
of the restoration had been com-
pleted.
The time was so ripe for the
restoration that some historians have
commented that Mormonism could
not have been founded in any other
period.* In fact, some scholars have
asserted that Joseph Smith created
a new religion by borrowing heavily
from the teachings of various radical
groups that flourished in North
America in the early nineteenth
century. Such statements reveal
that the authors have only super-
ficially considered Mormon theology.
Mormonism is not merely a reflec-
tion of the contemporary religious
developments, as is evident by the
unique features of this religion. It
is true that Joseph Smith received
visions and revelations, organized a
communal society, advocated a re-
turn to the doctrines taught by Christ
and his apostles, declared millennial
principles, asserted unconventional
views on marriage, taught dietary
reforms, proclaimed Sabbath ob-
servance, and stressed the law of
chastity. But these principles were
also advocated by God's prophets of
former ages. The accomplishments
of Joseph Smith clearly dictate that
he did not copy from his con-
temporaries. The Prophet, in har-
mony with other reformers of the
period, denounced the orthodox
850
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
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trinitarian concept of God, but he
also replaced the traditional teaching
by a doctrine that was not advocated
by any other reformer of his day. He
replaced the controversial belief of
a heaven and a hell by establishing
the scriptural concept of paradise,
salvation for the dead, and the three
degrees of glory. He argued against
the infallibility and all-inclusive na-
ture of the Bible but supported the
truthfulness of the scriptures by
translating a work that proved to be
a new witness for Christ and a veri-
fication of the writings located in the
Old and New Testaments. He re-
established the Church as it existed
in the Meridian of Time, but in a
manner not comprehended by any-
one living in his generation, and
named the Church after its founder
Jesus Christ. He restored the con-
cept of pre-existence and revealed
the blessings that temple work con-
tributes to humanity. He restored
the priesthood, clearly manifest its
powers by his actions, and suc-
ceeded in being an instrument in
The character to carry
responsibility
m
THE
SPOKEN
WORD
Richard L. Evans
Among the distinguishing differences between peo
pie— one which classifies and separates men
significant measure— is the willingness, the ability,
the character, the demonstrated desire to accept
an assignment, to take responsibility, to follow
through. In a sense, nothing simply does itself. Someone has to
do everything that is done. Someone has to produce; someone has
to improve the process and the product; someone has to sell; some-
one has to stay solvent. Almost everyone, it seems, can make some
suggestions— some semifinal decisions— but sooner or later someone
has to make final decisions— to decide what to do and when it would
be best to do it. At home, at work, in all public and private places,
always and in everything, someone has to see that every essential
thing is followed through. And there is no real happiness, no real
contentment, no great growth of character, and little sense of
accomplishment, in running away from responsibility. And if free-
dom from responsibility were ever to become an ultimate ideal, it
would be a matter of very serious concern. Of course there are
times when we need temporary respite from responsibility— when
we are overweary of being pressured and pushed— when we need
some diversion from the same daily round of routine. Every per-
son needs a change of pace, a change of sights and scenery. Vaca-
tion, yes; we need refreshment, recreation, the hour of rest, relief,
and relaxation between the doing of duties, all these we need. No
one can stay fresh without refreshment. No one can effectively
carry responsibility relentlessly and ever remain unrelieved. But
the sincerest satisfactions in life come in doing and not in dodging
duty; in meeting and solving problems, in facing facts, in being
a dependable person. There is ample evidence that the Lord God
himself, when he sent us here, expected us to use our time and
talents and intelligence, to think, to act, to make commitments, to
keep commandments, and to accept real responsibility. And one
thing that separates men in significant measure, is the willingness,
the character, the ability, the demonstrated desire to take responsi-
bility, to accept assignments, to follow through. And one of the
great discoveries in life is finding a dependable person.
The Spoken Word" from Temple Square presented over KSL and the
Columbia Broadcasting System, August 31, 1958. Copyright 1958.
852
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
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passing the authority and power of
the priesthood to later generations.
He not only preached free agency
but also restored Adam's position in
history by proclaiming: "Adam fell
that men might be; and men are,
that they might have joy."5 Wit-
nesses of the miracles of God also
were permitted to add their con-
victions to the one who sealed his
testimony, with his blood. And un-
like false prophets, Joseph Smith was
succeeded by other God-inspired
prophets who have continually
demonstrated to the world the
reality of the restoration. An analy-
sis of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine
and Covenants, and Pearl of Great
Price provides abundant evidence
that Joseph Smith was led by God
to restore to mankind truths on many
subjects. By direct revelation from
God, the latter-day Prophet suc-
ceeded in restoring the gospel upon
the earth, and successfully re-estab-
lished Christ's Church for the benefit
of all mankind. The fact that re-
ligious liberty was a reality, that the
orthodox Christian doctrines had
been liberalized, and that many
Christians were prepared in the
early nineteenth century to accept
the restored truths bear evidence
that this century was the most op-
portune moment in the history of
the world for the ushering in of the
fulness of the gospel. The "fruits"
of Joseph Smith are a testimony to
the world that Isaiah's and Nephi's
prophecies have been fulfilled.
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RESPONSE
by Alfred I Tooke
The violin of itself can make no
sound;
the strings alone vibrate no melody;
but when submissive to the master's
touch,
then, only then, can melody be born.
So man himself is impotent, but in
the Master's hands his soul awakes,
responds,
and heartstrings vibrate to the Mas-
ter's touch
to radiate a lovely melody.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
The Thankful Heart
If human hearts know shame,
Ah, then truly it must be
That this one blushes crimson.
To consider how these misered fists
Seize Heaven's every gift
As though it were deserved . . .
To think how this vain self,
In all its utter thanklessness,
Takes Life and Love
As its due heritage . . .
Makes unproved claim
To Sight and Sound
And Touch and Taste
And all of Life's endowments . . .
To reflect how this ungrateful mind
Dares trifle even its mean talents into dust . .
Dares squander even one small skill,
And play the profligate with Time . . .
To know this petty creature that I am
Dares taking Beauty for its own,
Makes property of all the stars,
The sun, the earth, the very universe,
Deems Art its rightful slave
And Poetry its handmaid . . .
To know with what effrontery it deigns
To pilfer particles of Wisdom's fund
And make them playthings . . .
Make keys of friendships, coin of Truth,
And mold of Faith a luckpiece . . .
To ponder this . . .
To ponder this, and recognize too well
One's proud and selfish image there,
Reflected so in gross ingratitude . . .
Ah, then it is this heart must blush
And beat its tardy thanks —
Its sincere and humble thanks . . .
For this beggar's bag of blessings!
"Pruning Hands"
by
Alhrecbt Diirer
(1471-1528)
Copyright 1958 • John Deere • Moline • Illinois
NOVEMBER 1958
Thanksgiving, 1958
w JOHN DEERE
MOLINE, ILLINOIS
JOHN DEERE/
855
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Everyone
has a stake
in a better
business
climate
The photograph above shows some of
the people whose products or services
are used by a typical employee in indus-
try and his family. This is an example
of the chain reaction of benefits set off
by just one job in a community.
Further dramatic proof of the impor-
tance of jobs is provided by a recent
survey* which shows that 100 industrial
j obs in a community can create :
74 additional jobs
112 more households
4 more retail stores
296 more residents in the community
$590,000 more income per year
$360,000 more in retail sales per year
The jobs that bring widespread bene-
fits like these to a community depend on
healthy and profitable businesses. And
business, in order to grow and prosper,
looks to the community for a healthy
business climate.
What are some of the conditions
which make an ideal business climate?
They are the same things that thought-
ful people in a community want for
themselves :
Honest and efficient government, sup-
ported by a strong majority of alert and
well-informed voters who have the bal-
anced best interests of the community
at heart.
Fair taxes for both business and indi-
viduals, without restrictive regulations
or discriminatory financial burdens.
Conscientious law enforcement which
protects the rights of all citizens, cor-
porate and private.
Equitable pay and benefits which reward
employees for applying their full effort
and skill to the job.
*"What Industrial Jobs Mean To A Community," U.S. Chamber of Commerce
] ' J'
if0
V
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;r ■":
■nmMM
$M
pSi
liiiP
'■:;■:*.
«:»«
Responsible union leadership and free-
dom from unwarranted strikes and slow-
downs where collective bargaining is in
effect.
Qualified people to fill employment
needs, with educational facilities to pre-
pare people for a wide range of jobs.
Adequate community facilities such as
stores, banks, utilities, transportation,
hospitals, and commercial services.
A social and cultural atmosphere in
which people will enjoy living and
working, including schools, churches,
libraries, theaters, a responsible press,
and healthful recreational facilities.
Throughout America, businesses,
municipal and state governments, and
individual citizens are taking an in-
creased interest in gaining these good
business climate conditions for their
communities.
There is still much to be done, how-
ever, on local, state, and national levels.
You can help by asserting your views
on the need for a good business climate
—as a member of community organiza-
tions, in civic planning activities, and at
the polls. You'll be helping achieve the
conditions that will enable your local
businesses to operate successfully — with
the greatest benefit to you.
• • •
To find out more about how you can help
appraise and improve the business climate
in your community, write to Business Cli-
mate, Dept. O, Box 2490, Grand Central
Station, New York 17, N. Y.
Building job
opportunities is
a continuous ef-
fort at General
Electric. To
help build sales
and jobs in 1958, General Electric
employees, the company's half a
million share owners, the men and
women of 45,000 supplier firms, and
400,000 firms that sell or service
General Electric products are carry-
ing out Operation Upturn— a nation-
wide program to help accelerate the
upturn in business by providing
customers with extra values.
Progress fs Our Most Important Product
GENERAL
ELECTRIC
HOW MANY CAN YOU ANSWER?
Where does the day begin?
Where does dust come from?
Do dogs dream?
Why does soap make me clean?
Where am I when I sleep?
you'll find the answers to your child's questions in
THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE
You try to answer your child's questions,
for you know that nothing discourages
an eager child more than "Don't ask so
many questions". . ."I don't know."
EDUCATE YOUR CHILD. ..IT PAYS
Nothing is as important to your child as
the answers to his questions, now. They
are his windows to the world. They give
him wealth that can never be taken away
...the wonderful gift of knowledge.
12,000 PICTURES THAT TEACH
In The Book Of Knowledge are 12,000
pictures that are an education in them-
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is designed to answer questions, teach
good study habits, help your child learn
to think.
SHORT-CUT TO FACT-FINDING
The Book Of Knowledge is not just a
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that each volume is equally interesting to
your child. It reveals hundreds of little
miracles in the ordinary things we find
around us. This unique system has earned
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millions of children., .the praise of
teachers, psychologists and parents.
READERS ARE LEADERS
It has made The Book Of Knowledge
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child these books, you give him what he
needs to become a happy, successful adult.
FREE BOOKLET FOR YOUR CHILD!
Send coupon for free 24-page "sampler"
—actual pages from The Book Of Knowl-
edge in color.
MAIL THIS FREE-BOOKLET COUPON
THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE, DEPT. A
The Grolier Society, 2 West 45th St.
New York 36, N. Y.
Please send me "ride the magic carpet," the 24-page
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the book of knowledge. I understand it is FREE,
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There are children in my family, ages
name
ADDRESS
CITY ZONE
COUNTY STATE...
k
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for your boy or girl. . . this
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Improvement Era 11-58
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pages reproduce actual pages from the book of knowledge.
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Send for new career booklet, ten minutes with your future.
For your copy, write F. G. Vaughan, 2 W. 45 St., New York 36,
N. Y. MUrray Hill 7-0600.
A publication of The Grolier Society Inc.
858
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
A Recording For
Church Organists
The Latter-day Saint Organist is
the title of a new record issued by
the General Music Committee of the
Church. This record will be a great
boon to organists of the Church.
Elder Alexander Schreiner, Salt
Lake Tabernacle Organist and a
member of the General Music Ex-
ecutive Committee, has made the
recording on a 12 inch, high fidelity
disc. One side of the record has to do
with hymn playing. Copious illus-
trations are given of hymns of dif-
ferent styles, such as the stately, the
vigorous, and the sustained, with
brief verbal instructions. On this
side are also two examples of post-
ludes.
The reverse side of the record con-
tains six preludes of varying charac-
ter, all of which are suitable for
Sacrament and other meetings.
These preludes are played with a
variety of registration, illustrating
the different tone colors that can be
obtained by the organist.
Records are being recognized as a
very effective medium of education,
and their use is rapidly extending
to nearly all branches of learning.
They are particularly useful in the
field of music where actually hearing
the sound of musical combinations
is most important.
It is hoped that all organists of the
Church will obtain this record for
their personal use. It will be a source
of great help to them in making their
hymn playing more effective and
their prelude music more appropri-
ate and devotional.
This record may be purchased at
the office of the General Music Com-
mittee, 69 East South Temple Street,
Salt Lake Citv, Utah, for $2.00 or
$2.50 if mailed.
HANDICAP AT FIFTY
by Lucretia Penny
Your name may be Smith, Brown, or
Jones,
Or Twilight McPlanet O'Dawn.
I can only keep stalling
Now while you're calling.
It will come to me after you're gone!
NOVEMBER 1958
Holiday Treats
• . . festive, fancy and sweet
with double-rich Morning Milk
Morning Milk Pumpkin Pie
(Makes 9-inch single-crust pie)
I cup sugar
l!/a teaspoons cin-
namon
Vz teaspoon cloves
Vi teaspoon allspice
Vi teaspoon nutmeg
sh teaspoon ginger
Vi teaspoon salt
2 eggs
l'/a cups canned
pumpkin
1% cups (1 large can)
undiluted
MORNING MILK
&-inch single-crust
unbaked pie shell
Blend sugar, spices, and salt together. Add eggs and pumpkin. Mix well. Stir
in Morning Milk. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Rake in hot oven (425" F.) 15
minutes; reduce to moderate heat (350° F.) and continue baking about 35
minutes, or until knife inserted in pie mixture comes out clean. Cool.
COCCI Booklet of Holiday Treot recipes at your grocer's
rK.CC. Mornjng Mi|k diSp|ay.
Nothing demonstrates the sensitive tempo of
modern living: so much as the fluctuating
pulse of markets and commerce.
And for every reader in the Intermoun-
tain West, The Salt Lake Tribune is an
illuminating beacon reaching into
every channel of trade which may
affect western prosperity. You
are abreast of the commercial
world with The Tribune's
complete market quotations,
exclusive Dow-Jones financial
dispatches and Robert L.
Bernick's coverage of the
important events in the West's
industrial realm. Keeping the
Intermountain
West in perspective
with the commercial world
is another of the essential
services provided for every
home and every office by .
fbe jialt fak* % iihum
PULITZER PRIZE
One of America's Grea UN ewspapers
859
"For God so loved
the world, that He
gave His only fcegol-
ten Son, that whoso-
ever helieveth in Him
should not perish,
but have everlasting
life."
John "5.16
This and other be-
loved portions of
Holy Writ appear in
the sixth edition of the
©nve pea BiBie
Magnificent condensed version of the
King James Old and New Testaments
u^l Chriswas 6m
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HANDSOME EDITION
BIBLE PAPER
Only $150
AT LEADING BOOK STORES, AND
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419 FOURTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, N. Y.
HEALTH
PROBLEMS?
NEO - LIFE
Food supplement supplies a KNOWN amount
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( ) 3 months' supply $14.75
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THE
SPOKEN
WORD
Away from home . . .
Richard L. Evans
With the passing summers and seasons, there come
times of leave-taking. Many leave home, many
young people particularly, for school, for work, for
other opportunities. And leaving home-ties is al-
ways in some ways a trying time— even leaving for
pleasant prospects. There is always change when one is away—
change in us, change in others, change in circumstances and situa-
tions. There is change in every new experience, change in every
separation, and parents cannot see sons and daughters leaving,
(nor can those who leave,) without some sobering thoughts-
thoughts of gratitude for opportunity, mixed with some sentiment
and some cause for concern. What will happen to us and to others?
What events will intervene? What will there be of the altering of
attitudes? Who will be here when they come back? Both those
who stay, and those who leave, wonder. Yet, the coming and
goings, the meetings and partings in life are always, it seems, in-
evitable—and few there are, if any, who live without some separa-
tion. (And the certainty of these separations gives us added
gratitude for the assurances of reunion and for the everlastingness
of life. ) Now as to those who go: What have we a right reasonably
to expect of them when they leave home and friends and familiar
places? This we would say is a minimum for them to remember:
that always, wherever they are, they remember who they are and
what they are; that they remember home teachings, high standards,
courteous and trustworthy conduct; that they remember that what
was basically right at home must be basically right also away from
home— for there is no geography of principles, there is no geography
of decency, of morality, or of honesty; there is no geography as to
character, as to keeping the commandments, as to gentlemanly and
kindly and considerate conduct. We are what we are, wherever
we are. And you who go away: Remember parents waiting and
wondering, parents praying and pleading for your peace and happi-
ness and protection. Remember fathers, mothers, teachers, family,
friends. And let the best of all that has been taught you, remain
with you to guide you and guard you and bring you back to those
you leave, to those you love, to those you would one day return to.
And remember also the day of returning to him who sent you here
to live this life.
"The Spoken Word" from Temple Square presented over KSL and the
Columbia Broadcasting System, September 14, 1958. Copyright 1958.
WORD FOR RECEIVERS
"by Elaine V. Emans
Lord, I have long tried it,
And I, too, believe
That it is more blessed
To give than receive.
But teach me the equally
Serious art
That takings more blessed
Than hurting a heart.
860
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
POWERFUL NEW AID
to help you inspire faith in the
BOOK OF MORMON
\
WtVlft 1.4. «
\p\m io-.u
Lehi's dream portrayed on 15 tons of stone carved 2,000
years ago . . .
Nephite inscriptions in reformed Egyptian discovered in
1958...
Jaredite and Nephite cities radio-carbon dated by
today's atomic clock . . .
300 cultural parallels between ancient Middle East and
ancient Middle America . . .
400 pages with 160 pictures, many of them in full color,
tell of hundreds of new discoveries — stone buildings,
ceramics, art, symbols . . . never before reported !
All this you will find absorbingly presented in "One
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of Mormon," and President of the new World Arche-
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working in Central America.
Mail the coupon. Be among the first to know these newly
discovered, far-reaching facts. They will strengthen your
own faith and you can use their power in leading others
to the Word of God !
Books of California
682 Mission Street • San Francisco, Calif*
NOVEMBER 1958
among your
NON-MORMON
friends!
Written especially for them I Hundreds
of new discoveries told in a strictly
objective way. An entirely new approach
. . . fascinating . . . convincing I
•
THIS COUPON $ -i nn
WORTH 1
when you buy
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Books of California
682 Mission Street
San Francisco, Calif.
Please send me a copy of "One Fold and One Shepherd" at the
pre-publication price of $5.00. (In California add 3% sales tax.
Bookstore price $6.00.)
Name _ ■
Address.
Coupon valid until November 30, 1958.
Book will be in the mail by December 1, 1958.
861
Bigger plates
for steel consumers
To supply customers with the specialty prod-
ucts required for today's-and tomorrow's-
critical applications, U. S. Steel equipped its
Homestead Works with new facilities to heat-
treat large plates of Stainless and USS "T-l"
Constructional Alloy Steel. These facilities
have resulted in products having higher, more
uniform mechanical properties and improved
flatness, and have made them available in
quantities to meet our customers' growing
requirements for these special steels.
This is one example of how United States
Steel's many facilities are continuously im-
proved and expanded to produce more useful
kinds of steel for industry.
USS and "T-l" are registered trademarks
(USS) United States Steel
• and cc qimmou^
A£JMK4ia Of
hem
Brigham Young University's
Home Study Department
Please send a free Home Study Catalog to:
„...«
City _: State
MAIL TO: Brigham Young University
Adult Education and Extension Services
Home Study Department Provo, Utah
862
Melchizedek Priesthood
(Continued) missionary service
without financial aid from some per-
son or quorum or other organization.
This is particularly true of young
church members in some foreign na-
tions where the economic standards
of the people generally are much
lower than in the United States.
In dispensing their missionary
funds, it is assumed that Melchize-
dek Priesthood quorums would pre-
fer to aid brethren or sisters in their
own wards and stakes who are
known to them. The First Presi-
dency maintains a general mission-
ary fund to which they have invited
contributions from individuals and
quorums. The First Council of the
Seventy also renders the same serv-
ice through a fund it administers.
Quorums of seventy in particular
are invited to contribute their excess
missionary funds to this account, so
that the money may be used for the
present rolling forth of the Lord's
work.
Priesthood quorums should feel
free to aid brethren and sisters irre-
spective of the priesthood affiliation
of those helped. There is no reason
why a seventies quorum, for in-
stance, should hesitate to help a
young member of an elders quorum.
There should be no feeling that a
young man should be ordained a
seventy and thereby be precluded
from possible priesthood service as
an elder upon his return from the
mission. The Church is one king-
dom, and a spirit of fraternalism and
unselfishness should pervade all its
programs.
5. Special Missionary Obligation
of Seventies
Seventies should be missionaries,
teachers, and expounders of the gos-
pel to all who are in need of such
teaching whether such persons are
in the Church or out of it, and they
should be relieved of positions of
presidency and administration in the
organizations of the Church so that
they can work in the field of their
primary responsibility.
As many seventies as possible
should make themselves available
for service in the foreign missions.
The great majority of brethren
serving in the stake missions should
come from among the seventies.
Presidents of quorums of seventy
should set an example in missionary
service. Three brethren, for in-
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NAME.
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ADDRESS.
CITY
.ZONE STATE.
NOVEMBER 1958
863
(ML&v&
::Ǥ -^ftp'
-'A-
HUTMEG CRISPS
Yield: 5 dozen cookies ^
flour. 2 tea9po«nste2apboon salt. Cream
Poiwter. and 54 teasP cups firmly
together % cup batter- s uo-
Uked ^°7aSnTP; teaspoon d-J*J
niHa extract, and ■ ^ water and 1.
«(rac{. Add 2 table-poo^ ^
egg yoife: beatf^e"eil blended. Pact
dtents; stir ^v^,und butter car-
doughintoernP^ Pches Cbffl «JJ
ton, 5 x 2H x y* Remove dough
Mgeratorsevera hours. t 1/g . h thick
from carton, *Me knlfe place
With a sharp, thm-b la Cut h
cookies on baking 9 gle9; 9epa-
cooky in half to form r x table.
375° F. (moderate;
utes. Cool.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
THIS
ABOUT BAKING
It's the BALANCE of ingredients in
baking powder that governs its leaven-
ing action. Only when these are scien-
tifically balanced can you be sure of uni-
form action in the mixing bowl plus that
final, balanced rise to light and fluffy
texture in the oven . . . That's the story
of Clabber Girl's double action-. . . Bet-
ter baking everytime!
BALANCED CLABBe^'
Double Action
means
Better Baking! ^*c^J
r* Guaranteed by ^1
Good Housekeeping
CLABBER GIRL
EXCLUSIVELY KNOWN AS THE
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stance, can run a seventies quorum
as easily as three can run an elders
or high priests quorum. It always
takes three members of a presidency
in active service so that the chair-
manship of the three standing com-
mittees can be filled. This leaves up
to four of the presidents of each
seventies quorum available for mis-
sionary service at all times.
Presidents called as missionaries
may include, where appropriate, the
senior president of the quorum.
Those so serving are to be released
from all committee obligations and
other quorum duties. They need
not, among other things, attend
presidency meetings unless such are
held at an hour when it is not ap-
propriate to do missionary work.
Once a seventy or other priesthood
holder is called on a stake mission,
he is to devote his full Church serv-
ice time to the missionary work, ex-
cept that he is to attend Sacrament
meeting, quarterly conference ses-
sions, and priesthood meetings.
If Melchizedek Priesthood quo-
rums would step forth and do all
they should in the great missionary
cause, there is no end to the good
that would result.
"On Relying on Laws and Locks
19
THE
SPOKEN
WORD
Richard L. Evans
In many ways we take great pains to protect our
property and to safeguard ourselves. We pass many
laws and we make many locks. But after all
other considerations are taken into account and
given their proper appraisal, we had just as well,
first and always, face this fact: There is no such thing as being
permanently safe simply with laws or with locks. The only things
we can count on ultimately are honesty, integrity, and high quali-
ties of character. No lock was ever made that gives full and lasting
protection against a cunning and determined dishonesty— because
the same kind of brains that can make a so-called safe lock can
also unlock a so-called safe lock. The same kind of brains that
can make a code can break a code. The same kind of mind that can
devise a so-called "foolproof" system, can outsmart a so-called
"foolproof" system. Laws and locks retard dishonest people, but
they don't stop dishonesty. Only honesty can stop dishonesty-
only integrity, only high qualities of character. And whenever we
have to put ourselves in someone else's hands, as we often do,
whenever we have to trust other people in any occupation, in any
profession, in any relationship in life, we should look beyond skill,
beyond talent, beyond personality, beyond appearance, beyond
ability— even beyond all these (but including them also if we can)
we should look for high qualities of character. And if we can't
count on character, there is very little we can count on. No man
has reason to sleep very well if his whole trust is placed in laws
and locks and alarms, for people have proved repeatedly, with
boldness and craftiness and quiet cunning, that they can invade the
most safely guarded places, that they can perpetrate repeated frauds
upon the public, that they can circumvent accounting systems,
audits, and rules, and regulations. And with more laws and locks
than we have ever had before, with more men checking on other
men, with more and more people policing other people, there is more
and ever more violation of laws and of locks. Too often, in too
many places, too many of us have too much put our trust in mere
physical factors, and have too much forgotten the inner make-up
of the man. But when we have found high qualities of character,
someone without evil intent, someone who knows the difference
between what is his and what isn't, what is honorable and what
isn't, when we have found someone to trust, we have found one
of life's greatest safeguards and satisfactions.1
"The Spoken Word" from Temple Square presented over KSL and the
Columbia Broadcasting System, September 7, 1958. Copyright 1958.
Revised
864
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
wuess what the boy
with that "hollow feeling"
finds good,
and good
for him!
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,/C*^
THE
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snap into bite-size halves (less crumbs). Wraps them in 3
In-Er-Seal wax packets for lasting crispness. Get some today.
NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY®
NOVEMBER 1958
865
Today's Family
The
Family
That Reads
Together
by Elizabeth Larimore
One evening between Thanksgiving and Christmas
in 1926 we could hear Dad's footsteps crunch on the
snowy walk as he arrived home from the office. He
came in jauntily, enveloped in the cold air of his
walk from the streetcar, and peered over his steamed-
up glasses at my sister and me, curled in warm
comfort at each end of the couch. Flourishing an
oblong package, he announced with a good deal of
fanfare that he had brought us a book— A Christmas
Carol by Charles Dickens— and that he was going to
read it aloud after dinner. -
From the time that we could sit up and listen
Mother had read to us. We had loved being read
to so much that we often kept her at it until her voice
gave out. But I was now twelve, my sister ten, cer-
tainly old enough to take care of our own reading.
Dad had never read to us much before. We wondered
why he was so set on it now, when we were practical-
ly grown up. We were at the serious age, and I was
engrossed in The Little Colonel, my sister in The
Bobbsey Twins. We took a dim view of Mr. Charles
Dickens who sounded old-fashioned and musty to us.
From the very first paragraph Dad's rendition of
Marley being as dead as a doornail had us enthralled.
We were transported in time and place to gloomy
London of the nineteenth century and could feel the
chill fog creeping all about us as we sat before our
cheerful fire. Mother was a good reader but not
nearly so dramatic as Dad. He punched every sig-
nificant verb, every colorful adjective with gusto.
He was Scrooge; he was Bob Cratchit; he was the
Ghost of Christmas Past. Imbued with Christmas
spirit, he was giving a dearly beloved book everything
he had. We sighed with regret when he laid it down,
saying that was enough for one night. On successive
evenings we could hardly wait until dinner was over
to get back into the story again.
I believe that the repeated sharing of good books
forges a bond between people never to be broken. I
started reading to my children when they were two,
continuing until they were ten, never from a sense of
duty, but always with pleasure. Whether the story
866
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
was Peter Rabbit or Treasure Island,
I enjoyed it as much as they did.
And we all enjoyed the companion-
ship that goes with reading together.
Children need a guiding hand into
the world of good literature. Just
as Dad introduced me to Dickens
through A Christmas Carol, then
went on to Great Expectations, so I
have introduced my son and daugh-
ter to my favorite juvenile classics.
Bringing your children and your
favorite books together starts a life-
time of good reading habits. They
may take up comic books and a cer-
tain amount of trash from time to
time, but they will always recognize
the best and return to it.
Reading aloud to children is re-
laxation for you as well as for them.
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867
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sleep after an evening spent floating
down the Mississippi on Huck Finn's
raft. There is spiritual enrichment
in discovering or renewing acquaint-
ance with Beatrix Potter's delight-
ful animals; Winnie-the-Pooh, Tom
Sawyer, Mary Poppins, Anne of
Green Gables, and all of the time-
less characters and plots from which
children absorb good taste, good
vocabulary, and a knowledge of peo-
ple and ways of life.
I know that my children and I
are not unique in this enjoyment of
reading together. When I was a
librarian, I participated in story
hours in big city and small town
libraries. Sarah Bernhardt never
had a more spellbound audience.
The most fractious child will quietly
hang on every word of a good story
well delivered. You don't have to
be endowed with dramatic ability to
read aloud effectively to children.
What you do need is enthusiasm, the
knack of viewing the story through
their young eyes, so that you impart
your enthusiasm to them. If you
care about the characters and how
the whole thing will turn out, your
audience will care, too.
There is bound to be, sooner or
later, a strain in parent-child rela-
tionship. But no matter how far
apart you grow in interests and atti-
tudes, there will always be that
closeness instilled when a warm lit-
tle body leaned against you to hear
a story. My parents were dignified
and reserved. They never got down
on the floor and romped with my
sister and me. But through those
sessions with good books they com-
municated their affection for us and
wove a strong family tie.
My twelve-year old daughter is
at the "anti-parents" phase and con-
siders us tiresome people who go
out of our way to obstruct her pur-
suit of happiness. Recently, while
ill with scarlet fever, she said the
three words I used to hear frequent-
ly and hadn't heard for a long time—
"Read to me!" The library is a good
distance across town, and the sup-
ply of juveniles on our shelves had
been thoroughly exhausted long
ago. Casting about for something
different I came up with Conan
Doyle's The Hound of the Basker-
villes. I remembered the pleasur-
able thrills I had experienced over
it. Maybe it was too old for her,
but we would give it a try. I don't
know of a better escape yarn, and
the suspenseful hours with Sherlock
Holmes and Dr. Watson in their
adventure on the wild English moor
took our minds off her illness, be-
sides renewing our old companion-
ship which has only been lying
dormant.
The more you can do to establish
something in common between you
and your children in their formative
years, the better you will get over
that hump between the time they
leave childhood and enter adult-
hood. There comes a time when it
is difficult to get through to them.
But there will be understanding with
words unspoken if you have shared
good things all along. Good litera-
ture is the best of company. I have
great faith in its power to bring out
the best in people.
IN THE EVENING
by Patricia Duff McGinley
The kitchen air is sweet with new-baked pie
And warm with light. Here, standing at the sink,
I watch the last sun leave the clouds and die.
"It's nearly six; he'll soon be home." I think.
The dinner's almost cooked; the table's set.
This little time alone is left to wait;
But, oh, how every minute seems to fret
Until I hear him coming in the gate.
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THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
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An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints from
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by Leonard J. Arrington
Associate Professor of Economics, Utah State University
Fulbright Lecturer in Economics
This book presents as a "case study" in American economics the problems,
policies, and institutions of the Mormon pioneers. It explores the vast
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$9.00
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FAMIL Y FINANCES
by Florence J. Johnson
Are you keeping your financial
problems to yourself?
We learned that when the chil-
dren shared the knowledge, many a
problem was eased, and solutions
were willingly suggested for which
we would never have asked.
It began when it seemed that the
demands by the children for extra
money were becoming more and
more frequent; and that when the
demands were denied, we had sul-
len, unaccommodating boys and
girls.
We had a family meeting one
evening and gathered around the
big dining room table. Paper and
pencil was given to each one, and
then my husband gave out figures-
how much was set aside for food,
for current expenses, for individual
allowances, and the money laid by
each month to make the payments
that are due every six months, or
once a year such as taxes and in-
surance.
When the children added up the
figures, he then gave them the
amount of income for the month.
The figures that had been given
were those of the past month, and it
was Tom, the oldest boy who
reached the answer first.
"Why, there is only ten dollars
left," he said, staring at his paper.
"Yes," said his father. "That is the
emergency fund."
"What is the emergency fund?"
asked Sharon, whose request for a
new party dress ("that she just had
to have") had brought about this
family meeting. "You already have
one marked 'the unexpected.' '
' 'The unexpected' is for big emer-
gencies, like the damage done by
that windstorm which was not fully
covered by insurance, for the paper-
ing job in the guest room when the
870
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
window was left wide open, and
that big repair job on the car," said
her father. "The emergency fund is
for such things as the track shoes for
Tom, and those theater tickets you
both wanted last month after your
allowances had been spent."
"Did they come out of this ten
dollars?" asked Jimmy, our sober
little ten-year-old, whose allowance
melted away under the spell of air-
plane and ship make-it-yourself kits.
"No. They were paid for out of
the previous month emergency fund.
This ten dollars is still available, but
today is only the eighth of the
month, and there are still three
weeks to go," I answered.
"Then we could get the material
for my party dress," Sharon said
eagerly. "Darcy's has the loveliest
pattern in their window."
"Wake up, Sharon. If you get the
party dress, how about my Father-
and-Son dinner tickets, and the
birthday gift Jimmy needs for the
party next week? Maybe Mother
and Dad have a desire for something
extra, too." Tom scowled at the
figures on his sheet of paper. "Do
we really eat this much?" he asked.
"That should buy enough food for
an army."
"If your mother wasn't a clever
cook, it would be a lot higher," said
his father. My husband looked at
me, and we both smiled. Maybe it
wasn't such a bad idea, after all, to
lay the facts before the children.
"Well, we sure can't ask for an
increase on our allowances," Tom
said slowly. "Fred Clinton has the
right idea. He said he couldn't af-
ford to go out for sports because he
had to work before and after school.
If I had a job, it would help—"
"Can you afford it?" asked his
father quietly. "Fred has to help
his mother out with the living ex-
penses, because his father is dead.
You are planning on college and a
scientific career. You need to keep
physically fit as well as mentally
alert. You need competitive sports."
"I don't need those music lessons,"
Sharon pointed to one item. "I'll
never set the world afire as a musi-
cian."
"We don't expect you to," I told
her. "But it is a little social gift
worth knowing."
"Where does the Christmas money
come from?" Tom asked suddenly.
"We always get extra allowance at
NOVEMBER 1958
Mrs. Utah makes
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1 lb. of ground
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Vi cup chopped
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THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
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that time. Then, there's the money
you spend for gifts."
"Part of the savings is a Christmas
fund, and then your mother and I
add to it little by little. Your
mother, when she finds a bargain
when shopping; I, when we use less
gas for the car or have fewer calls
for repairs. Then, there are other
little things that all add up so we
have a little extra money to spend
for Christmas and for vacations,"
said his father.
Tom nodded.
"Like the golf club fees when you
spend your day off manicuring the
front lawn, and other chores?"
"Well, one is as good as the other
for keeping the waistline trim after
your mother's famous spaghetti
dinners."
"I can paint the sailboat I just
finished." Jimmy stopped chewing
his pencil. "Frank wants one. It
can be my birthday gift to him."
"I can pay for the tickets out of
my jalopy fund," said Tom. "I
won't have time to fool around with
it this summer. Mr. Winters asked
me yesterday if I would like to help
him in his lab with some experi-
ments. Maybe we could let Sharon
have part of the money for the party
dress she needs."
Sharon shook her head.
"I don't need it. I wanted one
because Phyllis was getting a new
one. What are you figuring now?"
she asked, as she saw her brother
was putting down some numbers.
"My allowance. Maybe if I knew
just how much I can spend for each
breakdown, I wouldn't be forever
in the red."
"That goes for me, too. I know
I've been buying too many choco-
late malts."
"It really pays to have the figures
down in black and white," said their
father. "Here comes your mother
with some refreshments. Let's drink
a toast to—"
"To the Fentons' financial round
table discussion," said Tom with a
grin, lifting high his glass of orange
juice.
True wisdom is to know what is
best worth knowing, and to do what
is best worth doing.
—Humphreys
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Your Question
(Continued) of the great and
dreadful day of the Lord" to turn
the heart of the fathers to the chil-
dren and the children to the fathers,
lest the earth be smitten with a curse.
There is abundant evidence that can
be produced showing that the hearts
of the children have turned to their
fathers. This is manifest in the na-
tions of the earth, as well as in the
Church of Jesus Christ. The abun-
dant research in genealogical study
and knowledge and the seeking after
the dead is evidence that this proph-
ecy has been fulfilled. Unto whom
did Elijah come? Is there a minister
or other person any place in the
world who can testify that Elijah
came and bestowed these kevs to
him to save the earth from a curse,
except the Prophet Joseph Smith
and Oliver Cowdery? Since no one
else has made such a claim, and the
evidence is too strong indicating that
this authority has been restored, we
must look to Joseph Smith and Oliver
Cowdery for the fulfilment of this
prediction.
Again: The Lord through his an-
cient prophets said that the time
would come when the Israelites
would seek their native land and
that they should be established upon
it. That this gathering has com-
menced is evident to all the world.
The ancient prophecies are being
fulfilled. Has any one except Joseph
Smith and Oliver Cowdery ever laid
claim to the restoration of these keys
of authority? • The evidence is here
that they have been restored. Has
any other minister or priest ever
claimed that the Lord has revealed
to him, and restored, the keys of the
Dispensation of the Fulness of
Times? Only Joseph Smith and
Oliver Cowdery. Yet Paul and
Peter have clearly predicted the
restoration of this divine authority.
Surely the Lord will do nothing
without revealing it to his servants
the prophets. The Christian world
has closed the heavens against
themselves. They have declared
that there is to be no more revela-
tion, coming of angels or visions,
therefore they cannot lay claim to
the receiving of any keys pertaining
to the restoration; yet we see the
evidence of this restoration taking
place on the earth. The ancient
prophecies concerning the coming
of Christ, the restoration of Israel,
and the giving of covenants to them,
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NOVEMBER 1958
873
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(the Israelites) all taking place on
the earth. These cannot come with-
out the aid of divine authority and
duly authorized servants appointed
through the opening of the heavens.
In the remarkable vision given to
King Nebuchadnezzar of the image
representing the nations from the
days of Nebuchadnezzar to the time
of the coming of Christ, we read
that in the days of the kingdoms
represented by the toes the "God of
heaven" was to set up a kingdom
"which shall never be destroyed;
and the kingdom shall not be left
to other people, but it shall break
in pieces and consume all these king-
doms, and it shall stand forever."
The Latter-day Saints maintain that
this kingdom is the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. More-
over that it is the "stone" cut out
of the mountain without hands
which eventually is to take pre-
eminence upon the face of the earth.
"And the kingdom and dominion,
and the greatness of the kingdom
under the whole heaven, shall be
given to the people of the saints of
the most High, whose kingdom is an
"Ah, Wilderness"— The
Beginning of Adolescence
(Continued) Nevertheless, these
are boobytraps to a growing boy.
Cussing and vulgarity will usually
alienate him from adults and the
"successful" group at school. And
drinking among adolescents always
means slopping it up until they
get high. Getting high means dis-
aster. It means doing crazy things—
to people, to cars, to themselves.
Smoking is something else. It isn't
spectacular like drinking, but it is a
symbol. It represents defiance. It is
"just to show the principal or parents
that it's a free world." There is no
pleasure in smoking until after the
boy gets "the habit." Then it is a
necessity. As one boy described it,
"I have to smoke so I won't get the
shakes." Then he added, "I can quit
if I want to. I've done it lots of
times."
Another activity that usually
sprouts up during early adolescence
is a suddenly developed talent for
the telling of dirty stories. These
are not nearly as significant to the
boys as they sound to adults who
overhear them, but it is likely to
everlasting kingdom, and all domin-
ions shall serve and obey him."5
No one else, but Joseph Smith, has
ever made the claim that this resto-
ration and setting up of the kingdom
(i.e. Church of Jesus Christ) has
ever been revealed. Yet all indica-
tions point to the fact that the pre-
dicted signs of the approach of the
second coming of our Lord are here.
Surely the preparatory work of that
coming must precede it. The restored
unadulterated gospel must be here.
Prophets who can receive revela-
tion and who possess heavenly
powers must be here. The heavens
must be open and divine communi-
cations received bv someone who is
commissioned to set in order, under
the guiding hand of Jesus Christ,
all things preparatory to his appear-
ance as King of kings and Lord of
lords. Joseph Smith has proclaimed
to the world that such power, keys,
and authority were bestowed upon
him. No one else has arisen to make
such a claim; yet, this was revealed
preparatory to these momentous and
final restorations.
shock a parent to hear the resound-
ing guffaws which accompany some
weird tale being told by his pink-
cheeked boy with the innocent
countenance. Even at eleven, boys
frequently gather to swap stories and
indulge themselves in expressions of
vulgarity, but their major theme at
that age is usually centered around
routine physical functions such as
elimination processes. Beginning
around twelve, however, a boy
begins to have a highly emotional
fascination for the subject of sex.
He secretlv wishes he knew more
about it and feels like giggling when-
ever the subject is mentioned. This
new mysterious theme often becomes
a tremendous source of humor for a
twelve-year-old boy, and even a
poorly told or pointless story on this
subject will send him into gales of
laughter.
Authorities believe this proclivity
for off-color stories at this particular
age is an attempt to show bravado
and knowledge concerning a subject
which they actually know is beyond
them. It gives them a sense of se-
curity to see what "shockers" they
can tell— as though they knew all
about it. Perhaps it is Mother Na-
874
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
ture's way of saying, "Puberty is
near."
Problems of Puberty
Physical development leading to
puberty takes a long time. As we
have previously mentioned, normal
children become sexually alive at
around 3 years of age. Therefore
the approach of puberty in early
adolescence is simply an intensifica-
tion of feelings that have been
gradually increasing through the
years.
In fact, long before puberty a boy
will have been doing something
about these powerful forces of life
within him. Either he will have
tried to sublimate and control these
tensions or he will have sought op-
portunities to exploit them. He
may have battled back and forth
in both directions during the pass-
ing years. This is extremely im-
portant for parents to understand.
Parents who leave young children
together for long periods without
supervision can expect that as early
as age 4 or 5 they will have become
sufficiently curious about themselves
and their feelings to try to do some-
thing about it. This natural and
inherent curiosity makes young
children extremely vulnerable to
exploitation by older children or
predatory adults. Studies of im-
moral behavior reveal that unfor-
tunate experiences in very early
childhood frequently cause a subse-
quent pattern of reckless promis-
cuity, or abnormal, deviate activity.
Puberty should be discussed by a
father with his son in a very casual,
matter-of-fact way. A boy needs to
understand that while life is an
amazing and awesome thing, it is
intended to be a happy and satisfy-
ing pattern of existence. Many
parents know that their own lives
would have been far happier if
someone had told them that the early
control of the powers of procreation
is essential to the happiest and most
satisfying kind of life. Every boy
deserves to know this, and he should
hear it from his own father if pos-
sible.
It should not be difficult for a
father to tell his 12-year-old rather
casually what puberty will mean to
him. A boy should be given a rather
thorough understanding of his own
NOVEMBER 1958
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875
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ORA PATE STEWART
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876
physiology and the glandular devel-
opment which should be expected at
this particular stage of his life. Many
good books are available for this
purpose. He should understand
that the tensions he will seek to con-
trol will be easily stimulated and
that it will be easier for him if he
deliberately avoids the obscene pic-
tures and pornographic literature
which "some of the kids" will be
passing around. He will need to
know that physical activity is the
best distraction from morbid thoughts
which are likely to prey upon his
mind. He should also be assured
that the strange flights of imagina-
tion which his dream mind may take
is something which happens to
everybody. It should just be ac-
cepted as part of "growing up." Such
a discussion will take the mystery
out of the many new experiences
which await the 12-year-old boy,
and it should help protect him from
the feelings of fear and guilt which
might otherwise creep into his mind.
A wise father will also have a sug-
gestion or two for his boy concern-
ing the maverick activities of his
associates at school or in the neigh-
borhood. Even some adult may seek
to induce him to abandon sublima-
tion and control in favor of exploita-
tion. Fathers who never discuss
such problems with their boys be-
cause they think "my boy would
never fall for anything like that" are
only deceiving themselves. The
police across the country learn from
the thousands of cases they are re-
quired to process each year that the
ignorant and unprepared boy is the
most vulnerable of all.
On the other hand, a boy is for-
tunate indeed if he has a father
who has carefully counseled with
him through the years. Where this
is done a boy can approach puberty
with understanding and confidence.
He can also enter the strange wilder-
ness of adolescence with a fixed de-
termination to remain morally con-
tinent as part of his maturity and
preparation for marriage. Many
adults who read this article will have
successfully achieved this high goal
themselves, and even those who
may not have been quite so success-
ful will no doubt recognize the
value of it and earnestly recommend
it to their children.
(To be continued)
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Good Teachers and Discipline
(Continued) as state champion-
ships, tragedies, scandals, and so on.
(c) Problems of personality. The
immature person has definite and
varied problems which arise as the
personality grows toward maturity.
In this growth process mistakes will
be made. The teacher's task is to
give guidance and help in develop-
ing healthy personalities. To do so
he must recognize that two facets
exist in the problem of personality-
caused disturbances: There are
minor disturbances which can be
helped or corrected, and there are
major or deep-seated problems which
are often beyond the teacher's abil-
ity to correct.
Because of these personality-
caused disturbances, it is essential
that a teacher understand child de-
velopment and the problems con-
fronting the age group he teaches.
The teen-aged student, as an exam-
ple, is confronted with the conflict of
dependence and independence. As he
makes the transition to adulthood, he
may show signs of rebellion, moodi-
ness, disobedience, impudence, at-
tention-seeking behavior, and so
on. The wise teacher recognizes
these signs for what they are, seeks
to find the individual cause in
each student, and removes the cause
if possible. To be able to approach
a student with such a personality
disturbance, the teacher must mani-
fest a sincere personal interest in
him, and over a period of time, earn
the student's confidence and trust.
Once this is accomplished, the
teacher is in a position to help.
Deep-seated personality problems
are sometimes manifested in the
same behavioral patterns as men-
tioned above. They can be recog-
nized when the student does not
respond to the usual workable pro-
cedures of control. They may also
be manifest by erratic behavioral
patterns, extreme hostility and ag-
gression, nervous tics, anxiety, and
other similar responses. Students
suffering from deep-seated malad-
justments can be helped to some
degree by the teacher and the group
if they are made to feel loved and
accepted. Again the teacher's sin-
cere personal interest in the student
is invaluable in giving that student
a sense of security and confidence.
But beyond this, students with deep-
seated personality problems often
need the help of professional agen-
cies outside of the school.
Correction of Disciplinary
Problems
Avoid the use of threats. When a
teacher threatens certain disciplinary
action for contrary behavior, he is
merely placing a temptation before
the class members. Should the class
or an individual yield to the tempta-
tion, the teacher is in the awkward
position of following through on a
punishment that may not * fit the
situation. Instead of threatening,
the teacher should exercise good con-
trol by giving proper and timely
correction after a rule of good con-
duct has been broken.
Avoid show of emotion. The
teacher who loses his temper or be-
comes emotionally upset is not in
control of the situation but is being
controlled by it. It is better for the
teacher to wait until he has com-
plete emotional control before he
tries to correct the contrary indi-
vidual or the class.
Gain group support. The we or
our concept in a class is one that the
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NOVEMBER 1958
877
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AT YOUR GROCERS
878
teacher should consciously build
with himself and the students. If the
class is convinced that they have the
love and respect of their teacher
and that it is their class as well as
his, they will take in good spirit the
periodic corrections that are needed.
When a teacher finds himself against
the entire group, he is in a sad situa-
tion, and most likely the fault can
be traced largely to him.
Inspect self and methods often.
Teacher-caused problems can only
be corrected by frequent critical
introspection and a determination
not only to recognize but also to cor-
rect the difficulty. The beginning
teacher is certain to make mistakes,
but he can rise above them if he
will look for the cause of his failures
and then work to overcome them.
Even the so-called master teacher
must constantly be alert and avoid
falling into pitfalls. The teacher
then should learn to master the de-
sirable social traits and teaching
skills which lead to success.
Learn the characteristics of the
age group concerned. In addition,
the teacher must come to know the
characteristics of the age level he
is teaching; he must learn to recog-
nize the general behavioral patterns
and deviations he must meet. He
should seek new and better methods
and take advantage of advanced
training in those areas which will
make him a better person and a
better teacher. He must ever bear
in mind that a good teacher does not
teach subject matter but he teaches
students. The religion teacher must
do all in his power to help the stu-
dent equip himself with the keys
that- bring exaltation and happiness.
Follow the scriptural injunctions.
The religion teacher faces added re-
sponsibilities in considering the wel-
fare of the individual students.
Perhaps no better advice could be
given a teacher who should be in-
spired of God than that given by the
Lord concerning the exercise of the
priesthood. It must surely apply to
the teacher of God's children in the
field of religion:
"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—
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
"Reproving betimes with sharp-
ness, when moved upon by the Holy
Ghost; and then showing forth after-
wards an increase of love toward
him whom thou hast reproved, lest
he esteem thee to be his enemy."
(D & C 121:41-43.)
NOVEMBER PASTEL
By Dorothy }. Roberts
With maples' flame burned into ash,
and deep
Brown of oak but dust of cinnamon;
With freckled gold of ivillows
banked in sleep,
Fall's splendor on the plain and hill
is gone.
Now over earth's gray slumber
blooms the sky,
All cloud and color, rayed with the
broken wheel,
The rimless spokes of sunlight.
Above the dry
Forsaken land, swirl streamers the
tint of steel,
Gold-haloed in the leagues of mov-
ing air
Once blue and placid as a lake of
glass.
Sight climbs beyond the mountain's
faded stair,
Above the monotones of tree and
grass
To the pastel glory of the falling sun,
One beauty ending: another but
begun.
The Three "Vs"
(Continued) minds as to whether
or not they are going to Church next
Sunday. In fact, that question is
not usually decided in their minds
at all. They wait to see how much
weight will be put on the teeter-
totter on Sunday morning by the
weather, how they feel, and what
the other external conditions will
be. There are some people who
have not decided whether or not
they are going to be honest, or
Get Your Education
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Winter Quarter Instruction begins Jon. 5, 1959
For information write Public Relations Dept.
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Provo
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NOVEMBER 1958
879
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COAT and HAT RACKS
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A 4 ft. (S-4-CT) Checkerette pro-
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whether or not they are going to
be tithepayers, or do their ward
teaching. They wait to see what
pressures will be applied by cir-
cumstances.
One of the functions of leader-
ship is to help people make firm
decisions about things, draw an-
swers out of their minds so that
important questions may be settled
once and for all. For as no one can
be saved in ignorance, just so, no
one can be saved in indecision.
Indifference
The worst sin of many people is
not that they disbelieve in God;
their skepticism is more serious —
they just haven't thought about him
one way or the other. It isn't that
they disbelieve the doctrines of the
Church; what is far worse, they
just don't care. It is one thing to
lack faith, but it is still worse to
lack interest.
There are some people who call
themselves by the rather fancy name
of agnostic. They seem to take pride
in saying, "I don't believe, but I
don't disbelieve." That is, they are
neither one thing nor the other.
Someone said there is one folly
greater than that of the fool who
says in his heart there is no God,
and that is the folly of him who
says that he doesn't know whether
there is a God or not. In some
measure, agnosticism is a mere con-
fession of indifference indicating a
lack of ambition, or a lack of enough
interest to try to find the truth.
When one is indifferent, the spirit
remains apathetic and detached.
There is then a natural lack of any
involvement that would lead to faith.
No one deliberately decides to be
ignorant. Ignorance is indifference
to learning. Sloth is indifference to
industry. Weakness is indifference
to strength. One man had an "in-
different" automobile horn. He said
it just didn't give a hoot.
Certainly no man can be saved in
indifference.
These three sins probably rob
more people of their blessings than
do all of the other sins combined.
Recently I talked with a man who
told me that he had never read one
single book in the last five years.
Woodrow Wilson indicated this
natural weakness when he said, "The
greatest ability of the American
people is their ability to resist in-
struction." Unfortunately most of
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THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
us have our share of this unprofit-
able talent.
Thomas A. Edison makes our
problem seem more difficult when
he said, "There is no limit to which
man will not go to avoid thinking."
And yet scripture reminds us that
"as he [a man] thinketh in his heart,
so is he." (Proverbs 23:7.) Now if
we are what we think, and then if
we don't think, the seriousness of
our situation is evident.
Emerson was also conscious of the
problem when he said, "On the brink
of the ocean of life and truth we
are miserably dying. . . . Sometimes
we are furthest away when we are
closest by. . . . We stand on the
brink of an ocean of power, but each
must take steps that would bring
him there. . . ." The Jews were so
near and yet they were so far away.
We must not repeat their mistake.
We have three great volumes of new
scripture. But what good does it
do us if we are not familiar with
them so that we can make their
teachings a part of our lives. We
are so near and yet we may be so
far away.
The Athenians put Socrates to
death principally for his attempts
to deliver them from the oppression
of the three I's. Jesus was crucified
for the same reason. We seem to
hang on to our ignorance, indecision
and indifference for dear life. One
cried out, "O God, why dost thou
take so much interest in our welfare
when we take so little in our own?"
The three I's have always been
our biggest problem. We remain
stricken with ignorance and poi-
soned by a continuous succession of
small thoughts. We become centers
of indifference. This prevents our
progress. Indifference has been de-
fined as inactivity in perpetuity.
Now what are we going to do
about it? The logical solution is to
learn how to develop antidotes for
the three I's. We need to learn how
to get people to study, think, ponder,
pray, and make decisions about im-
portant things and then carry the
decisions through to their proper
conclusion. When we break the
oppression of the three I's, our lives
will take on new meaning.
Branch Rickey was once asked
what was the greatest thrill he had
ever had in baseball. His reply was,
"I haven't had it yet." Our greatest
thrill may also be in the future. It
will come when we have learned to
free ourselves and others from the
degradation of the three I's.
NOVEMBER 1958
For the Missionary. . .
dill
l_^f istinctive choice of
programs to make the
farewell complete. The mis*
sionary's photograph in-
cluded in folded
program.
The West's Finest
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along with a big 3V2%
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"Are we good for each other?"
THE
SPOKEN
WORD
Richard L. Evans
To an audience of young people, a wise counselor
recently proposed a question concerning those with
whom they kept company — a question which all
of us could well ask concerning ourselves and all
our associates: "Are we good for each other?"1
It is a question which in youth could well be asked of pals and
playmates. A boy and a girl well could ask it of those with whom
they keep company. It is a question that people should surely ask
as they select business associates. And it certainly is a question
that all should ask before making a commitment as to marriage.
It is a pertinent question in the selection of all associates. Inevitably
we tend to be affected by the character and qualities of those with
whom we keep company. Tennyson said it in a single sentence:
"I am a part of all I have met."2 We take from others; we give to
others; and something of us all rubs off on all of us in any associa-
tion. And in school, at work, wherever long or short friendships,
and especially where romantic interests are in mind or in the
making, we should earnestly consider: "Are we good for each
other?"1 A boy and a girl must consider whether or not in being
together they bring out the best. Do they encourage and inspire —
or pull each other down. Do they neglect work and duties unduly
when they are keeping company? Do they neglect school, church,
preparation, practice? Do their marks go down? Do they lift each
other to live to high standards, or tempt each other to let down to
lower standards? Some affect others adversely. Some are under-
standing, and others aren't. Some are coldly critical, and some
are constructively encouraging. Young people who become en-
amoured of each other sometimes tend to spend together too
long a time, to linger too long and too late, and neglect too many
other things, and exclude too many other friends, and draw too
much away from family. In this life which moves so swiftly, and
which reaches so far in its everlasting effects, those with whom
we would want to live our lives, should lift our lives, and bring
out the best, and help us to be better. And well would we ask each
other always and frankly concerning ourselves, and as to all our
associates: "Are we good for each other?"1 In the lasting things
of life, do we help each other to be at our best?
"The Spoken Word" from Temple Square presented over KSL, and the
Columbia Broadcasting System, September 21, 1958. Copyright 1958.
( See page 883 for references. )
DESIGN OF GRATITUDE
By Mabel Law Atkinson
I bow before the beauty of old hands,
All gnarled and knotted, bleached as autumn hay;
They speak of wresting life from barren sands
And have the grace to fold while old lips pray
Before a table with its simple food-
Old hands in the design of gratitude!
882
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
ART AND PHOTO CREDITS:
Cover, Frank Magleby; John Davenport, 785,
884; Max Tharpe, 796; Deseret News, 804;
Ralph Reynolds, art, 806, 808, 846, 870; Ted
Cannon, 806; Harold M. Lambert Studios, 810;
Ed Maryon, art, 814; Dale Kilbourn, art, 816,
819; Lorin Wiggins, 820, 821; H. Armstrong
Roberts, 820; Jeanne Lindorff, art, 821, 822; Dave
Burton, art, 866-867.
FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES
FOR ARTICLES:
Preliminaries to the Restoration
:Roland N. Stromberg, Religious Liberalism in
Eighteenth Century England (London: Oxford
University Press, 1954) 1-18.
2WilIiam Warren Sweet, The Stori/ of Religion
in America (New York: Harper and Brothers,
1950), 277-279.
3Peter G. Mode, Source Book and Biblio-
graphical Guide for American Church History
(Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, 1921), 404-
407.
^Whitney R. Cross, The Burned-over District
(Ithaca; Cornell University, 1950).
52 Nephi 2:25.
The Spoken Word
"Are We Good for Each Other"
^mily H. Bennett.
2Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Ulysses.
Your Question
iEph. 1:10.
2Acts 3:19-21.
3Isaiah 11:10-12., Ibid 29:10-14;
Jer. 31:31-34.
^Malachi 3:1-5.
SDaniel 2:29-44; Ibid. 7:18-27.
"Wickedness never Was
Happiness"
(Continued) happiness. He said
from the hillside:
"Labour not for the meat which
perisheth, but for that meat which
endureth unto everlasting life. . . ."
(John 6:27.)
And again he prayed in Geth-
semane: ". . . nevertheless not my
will, but thine, be done." (Luke
22:42.)
The people on New Year's Eve
had not labored for a meat which
should not perish. The young man
in the Army learned that the
result of wickedness was not happi-
ness, and I testify to you that al-
though I am young, and although
I am inexperienced in the ways of
life and the world, it is my discovery
and my witness, and I leave it with
you that if you would find true
happiness, spend your days labor-
ing for that meat which does not
perish as is found in the gospel of
Jesus Christ. Let your prayers and
your desires be above all ". . . not my
will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:
42.) Learn to serve and to sacrifice
in feeding his sheep.
•for* th
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Please send full-color reprints in 13'/2"xl6" size of the Thanksgiving Prayer
painting. I am enclosing 25c for each print to cover packing and mailing costs.
Name
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, _ (See Advertisement on Inside Back Cover) ...
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NOVEMBER 1958
883
The Last Word
Teacher : Tommy,
where are elephants
found?
Tommy: Elephants
are so big that they
hardly ever get lost.
Confucius No Say
Man who leave home to set world on fire, often
come back for more matches.
When man works like horse, everybody rides him.
Man can read some people like book but can't
shut them up so easily.
We read that in some European countries they are
considering placing a tax on American tourists.
Maybe they just want to make them feel at home.
It is no great thing to be humble when you are
brought low, but to be humble when you are praised
is a great and rare attainment.
—St. Bernard
A problem was presented to the sixth graders for
solution: "How can a rich man be poor in spirit?"
Blank faces told the teacher he had posed a prob-
lem which was truly a problem! He then put it this
way: "If you had four cars, three homes in differ-
ent states, a private plane, and a sailboat of your
own, how could you still be poor in spirit?"
Suddenly it was all so simple. One of the boys
knew the answer: "Just pay your taxes!"
It is not a tragedy to have only one talent; the
tragedy is in not using it.
Driving along a lonely road a man saw a woman
looking helplessly at a flat tire. He stopped and
changed the tire, and as he picked up the tools, the
woman said: "Please let the jack down easy. My
husband is asleep in the back seat."
Wife: "Mrs. Jones has another new hat."
Husband: "Well, if she were as attractive as you
are, my dear, she wouldn't have to depend so much
upon the milliner."
As the soil, however rich it may be, cannot be
productive without culture, so the mind without
cultivation can never produce good fruit.
—Seneca
884
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
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_Xr ^Jime of- ^Jkanhfuu
ne55 .
• •
With bowed heads and grateful hearts,
America now turns its thoughts to found-
ing fathers who dedicated this season of
the year as a time of Thanksgiving. Right
thankful are we for this glorious land of
abundant living, for freedom of conscience
and individual opportunity, for happy
families and hopeful futures; for Faith
itself. This is the legacy they left. Will
we do as well for those who follow us?
BENEFICIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Beneficial Building
Salt Lake City 1, Utah
Please send full-color reprints of 13Vz"xl6" size
of the Thanksgiving Prayer painting. I am enclosing 25c
for each print to cover packing and mailing costs.
Name
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City Zone State
This advertisement first appeared in the November 1954 Era. We are repeating:
it this month because of the numerous requests for copies of the Thanksgiving:
Prayer scene depicted by Artist Dale Kilbourn. We can now supply LIMITED
reprints of this popular painting in full-color, extra-large (13%"xl6") size, ready for
framing. Just mail the coupon.
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