The St. George Temple
APRIL 1957
Remarkable new washday product! Discover it now!
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Exploring
the Universe
e&
by Dr. Franklin S. Harris, Jr.
A sound so loud as to be almost painful
may have a million million times
the intensity of a sound that can barely
be heard.
In the United States there are 37
places called Berlin, 21 Rome, 19
Vienna, and among others there are
Moscow and St. Petersburg from Russia;
Paris and Vincennes from France;
Athens, Sparta, Syracuse, and Ithaca
from ancient Greece; and Utica from
ancient Carthage.
A few years ago Dr. Robert C. Hockett,
Scientific Director of the Sugar Re-
search Foundation, gave some figures
on the amount of land needed to pro-
duce the 3,000 calories a day needed by
an average 154-pound man. That
amount of energy derived from sugar
(taking one-quarter from beets and
three-quarters from cane) would re-
quire 0.13 acre instead of about 3.5
acres for the United States average. The
required acreage necessary for other
foods producing the same number of
calories is as follows: potatoes, 3 times
the average needed for sugar; corn
meal, 6; whole wheat flour, 6; refined
wheat flour, 8; hogs (pork and lard),
13; whole milk, 19; eggs, 46; chickens,
62; and steers, 113.
The dragonfly nymphs or larvae live
under water and breathe by sucking
water into a chamber lined with oxygen-
extracting gills at the rear of the abdo-
men. When the water is expelled by
muscular contraction, the nymph is jet
propelled forward a considerable dis-
tance.
The African Negroes of the Suk tribes
have such a complicated coiffure,
made by rubbing the hair in animal fat
and decorating it with small embedded
objects, that it takes a long time to get
the hair fixed properly. To keep from
spoiling the hairdo while sleeping, a
Suk sleeps on a special headrest or
wooden cushion, which is also carried
when he is traveling.
APRIL 1957
CHOCOLATE l
urns
Smart new
party cookie
White cocoanut
cream center —
cloaked in rich
dark chocolate
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CHANGES AT THE UN-
THE AFRO -ASIAN "BLOC
by Dr. G. Homer Durham
VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Asocial or political organization con-
stantly undergoes important changes.
The United Nations is no exception.
The organization now housed in "the
glass palace on the East River" in New
York City began its institutional life in
1946. During 1956 two significant in-
ternal changes were apparent. These
were:
(1) The emergence of the General
Assembly as the principal political or-
gan of the UN, rather than the Security
Council.
(2) The elevation to greater world
prominence of the position of Secretary-
General.
As stated in a previous column,1 the
Secretary-General of the United Na-
tions is a position that, in world affairs
and world influence today, ranks with
the presidency of the United States, the
premierships of the Soviet Union, Red
China, the United Kingdom, and France.
This is largely so because of the
tendency of the large General Assembly
to supersede the Security Council as the
principal political organ.
The rise of the General Assembly,
especially in 1956, can be explained by
the stalemate in the world military situ-
ation occasioned by nuclear weapons;
by the wide area of world opinion repre-
sented in the Assembly in contrast with
the Security Council; but more especial-
ly, in the light of these two circum-
stances, by the admission of 16 new
members to the organization in Decem-
ber 1955, followed by four more in
December 1956.
An organization which had 60 mem-
ber-states until December 1955 now has
eighty. The addition of these 20 new
seats in the General Assembly, within
a 12-month period, has helped work a
quiet revolution in the internal struc-
ture of the United Nations.
Most of the 20 newly admitted mem-
bers are from the African-Asian realm.
This has helped produce a significant
new element into the "politics" of the
UN.
Before 1956, most issues were a seesaw
xSee "Overture To the Second Inaugural," These
Times, Era, January 1957.
these wm
affair between the western and eastern
"blocs," led respectively by the United
States and the Soviet Union. The ele-
ment of compromise, so fundamental in
the peaceful aspects of the political
process, was largely missing. The
United States with the so-called "Latin
American bloc" of some 21 votes, plus
the British-Nato-western group, was
confronted by the Soviet 9-vote group, or
vice-versa, with no consistent balancing
element between. Today, the so-called
Afro-Asian "bloc" can muster 27 mem-
bers, sometimes 27 votes, which represent
one-third of the General Assembly's
total. These votes also represent the
aspirations of new, self-conscious na-
tions. Thus the "politics" of the Gen-
eral Assembly have acquired a new, and
(in terms of the politics of compromise)
hopeful, aspect.
This new element is forcefully dis-
played in the formal organization of the
UN General Assembly for 1957. The
new countries from the Afro-Asian realm
are significantly represented in the presi-
dency and in three of the seven chair-
manships of important committees.
1. The President of the General As-
sembly is Prince Wan Waithayakon,
Foreign Minister of Thailand.
2. The Ad Hoc or Special Political
Committee has for its chairman Selim
Sarper of Turkey.
3. The Economic Committee is led by
Mohammed Mir Khan of Pakistan.
4. The Administrative Committee is
headed by Omar Loutfi of Egypt.
The chairmanship of the most im-
portant committee, the Political Com-
mittee, is held by a Latin American,
Dr. Victor Belaunde of Peru. The So-
cial Committee is led by Hermod Lam-
ming of Denmark, the Trusteeship by
Enrique de Marchena of the Dominican
Republic. The Soviet bloc has one
chairmanship only, the Legal Commit-
tee, chaired by Dr. Karel Petrzelka of
Czechoslovakia.
The emergence of the new nations of
the "Afro-Asian bloc" indicates another
basic shift in the balance of world power.
It was underscored and very evident
during the debates the writer was privi-
leged to witness at the UN earlier this
year. It is another evidence why the
Eisenhower doctrine aims at cultivating
friendship in this important area in these
times.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
"The Lord has not left us to wonder;
He has not left us alone in the world to
grope in darkness, but the Church which
He has founded is guided by the Spirit
of Revelation, and the inspiration of the
Lord rests upon those who stand at the
head."
—Joseph Fielding Smith
THREE MORMON CLASSICS
This book brings together three classics: "Leaves from
My Journal," by Wilford Woodruff, an account of his
missionary experiences in the early days of the
Church; "My First Mission," an account of George Q.
Cannon's mission to Hawaii in 1850; "Jacob Hamblin,"
by James A. Little, one of the best accounts we have
of missionary work among the Indians of the South-
west. Contains many hours of priceless reading
pleasure. $3.25
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REVELATION
By Lewis J. Harmer
Here is a remarkable new book
which will materially aid each
member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints . . .
for it clearly explains the prin-
ciples of revelation and how rev-
elation is the very foundation of
the Church. Chapter 2 deals spe-
cifically with personal revelation
and tells who may receive it. This
study represents years of research
into the many aspects of revela-
tion, including personal visitations,
translation and visions. $3.25
These three hotels LDS owned and
operated. Make them your headquarters
when in Phoenix, Arizona.
APRIL 1957
211
OFFICIAL 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
VOLUME 60
The Voice of the Church
«w
The Editor's Page
Just a Bit of Heaven on Earth President David O. McKay 221
Church Features
Your Question: The Apostle Paul and Genealogical Research
Joseph Fielding Smith 222
80 Years Service to our Lord Albert L. Zobell, Jr. 224
Testimony Delbert L. Stapley 226
Fishers of Men— MIA Reading Course: Jesus the Christ— X ......Doyle L. Green 236
The Message of the Book of Job Hoyt Palmer 239
How, When, and Why We Tithed (A Reprint) ...'. Joseph E. Robinson 248
The Church Moves On 216 The Presiding Bishopric's Page 274
Melchizedek Priesthood 272
Special Features
The Spoken Word from Temple Square Richard L. Evans 223, 256, 264, 284
In the Heart Lies Spring Elayne T. Anderson 229
The Ross Eagar Story Eileen Gibbons 230
A Challenge to Parents — Neither Children nor Adults Antone K. Romney 233
"Nephites" Found in New Mexico — from a letter by Wilford Woodruff 242
A Lost Generation Christine Wach Capener 247
The Golden Angel 250
Arthur Elijah Morgan— Venerable Man of the Hills Lillian Sorensen 252
Exploring the Universe, Franklin S. Har-
ris, Jr. 209
These Times: Changes at the U N —
The Afro-Asian "Bloc," G. Homer
Today's Family
Be Shopping Wise when You Buy Eggs,
Norma Burnham 276
Durham 210
Modesty Is the Best Policy 214
America's Smoking Habits 218
Your Page and Ours 288
Youth, Ruth I. J. Devereaux 279
Toy R and R Hour, James W. Phillips..280
Stories, Poetry
To Be a King— Part III _ Hugh J. Cannon 234
My Pal Joey Harold Heifer 240
Liz and the Picnic Verne Owen 244
Frontispiece, Comes Spring! Dorothy O.
Rea 219
Poetry Page 220
April Song, Evelyn Tooley Hunt 254
The Awakening, Beulah Huish Sadleir ....287
Copyright 1957 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-class 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 are paid for on acceptance at the rate of l^c a word and must be accompanied by suffi-
cient 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.
NUMBER 4
APRIL 1957
THE COVER
The St. George Temple — first of the LDS
temples in the West— is eighty years young
this month of April. Our full-color cover is
from a photograph by Josef Muench. (See
also page 224.)
DAVID O. McKAY
RICHARD L. EVANS
Editors
Doyle L. Green
Managing Editor
Marba C. Joseph son
Associate Managing Editor
Elizabeth J. Moffitt
Production Editor
Albert L. Zobell, Jr.
Research Editor
Eileen Gibbons
Manuscript Editor,
Archibald P. Bennett
G. Homer Durham
Franklin S. Harris, Jr.
Milton R. Hunter
Hugh Nibley
Lee A. Palmer
Claude B. .Petersen
Sidney B, Sperry
Contributing Editors
ELBERT R. CURTIS
General Manager
BERTHA S. REEDER
Associate Manager
Verl P. Scott
Business Manager
A. Glen Snarr
Subscription Director
Thayer Evans
Regional Advertising
Representative
EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES
50 North Main Street
YMMIA Offices, 50 North Main St.
YWMIA Offices, 40 North Main St.
Salt Lake City 16, Utah
National Advertising Representatives
TOWNSEND, MILLSAP & CO,
110 Sutter St.
Sail Francisco, California
TOWNSEND, MILLSAP & CO.
(172 Lafayette Park Place
Los Angeles 57, California
SADLER AND SANGSTON ASSOCIATES
342 Madison Ave.
New York 17, N. Y.
DAVIS & SONS
30 N. LaSalle St.
Chicago, Illinois
Member, Audit Bureau of Circulations
"Seek Ye Out of the Best Books Words of Wisdom"-D & C 88:118
Because of Popular Demand
The LDS BOOKS CLUB Again Features
The Great Mormon Classic
"JESUS THE CHRIST"
by Dr. James E. Talmage
MIA Reading Course Book for two years
A study of the Messiah and his mission according to holy scriptures
both ancient and modern, this book has been a best seller since 1915
when it was first published under an assignment from the general authori-
ties of the Church. The author was a member of the Council of the Twelve
for many years and one of the great writers and scriptural authorities of
the Church. A must for your library. $3.00
Your membership in the LDS Books Club
will help enable you to increase your
knowledge of the gospel, assist you in building
your testimony, and give you these additional
advantages:
• SAVINGS
of about 20% through a free bonus book
plan.
• CAREFUL SELECTION
of ALL books recommended.
• CONVENIENCE
of books delivered to your door.
• METHODICAL
way of adding to your library.
• BEST NEW LDS BOOKS
as they come from the press.
• OLDER LDS CLASSICS
such as Jesus The Christ.
HOW THE CLUB
PLAN WORKS
1. You join the club by ordering the book
"Jesus The Christ" or one of the four alter-
nates described below. You may order two
or more of the books if you desire. Fill out
the coupon and mail along with your check or
money order. Your selection will be mailed
to you immediately.
2. Each month after you become a member
you will receive in the mail reviews of several
books, carefully selected, with one named as
the book of the month. If you wish to re-
ceive the top book you do nothing — it will be
sent to you in the mail, postpaid, along with
a statement. If you do not want the book,
you return the post card provided for an
alternate choice (or none at all).
3. After you have purchased four books, a
fifth will be sent you FREE. You select this
bonus book from a long list of choice Church
books which will be provided.
4. You need order only four books during
the year, but you may order one or more each
month, if you desire.
ALTERNATE SELECTIONS
Lehi In the Desert by Dr. Hugh Nibley.
"Number One" reference text for lessons pre-
sented in Melchizedek Priesthood Manual this
year. An invaluable aid to the understanding
and appreciation of The Book of Mormon.
Teachings of the Doctrine and Covenants by
Dr. William E. Berrett. This book will lead to
a clearer comprehension of and a love and
appreciation for the restored gospel as re-
vealed in modern-day scripture.
Discourse* of the Prophet Joseph Smith, com-
piled by Alma P. Burton. Teachings of this
great Prophet arranged according to subject
matter. Will help all who read it to under-
stand better Joseph Smith's teachings and the
doctrines and practices of the Church.
Tell Me A Story. Top 50 stories from "The
Children's Friend." This volume will not only
entertain and delight children, but also will
build faith and increase testimonies. Every
home with children should have it.
APRIL 1957
NtST
JESUS
THE CHRIST
Books Club
FILL OUT AND MAIL THIS COUPON NOW
LDS BOOKS CLUB, 161 East Utopia Avenue, Salt Lake City 15, Utah
Gentlemen:
Please enroll me as a member of the LDS BOOKS CLUB and send me the current
selection, Jesus The Christ, or/and the alternate(s) indicated below. I understand that I
will receive a free bonus book with each four selections I buy.
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY AND STATE
Amount of Check or Money Order enclosed $
(Utah residents add 2% sales tax.)
□ Please send Jesus the Christ-$3.00
- ALTERNATES -
Please Send:
□ Lehi in the Desert $3.00 □ Discourses of the Prophet
_ _ . . »■_»-.. j Joseph Smith $3.00
□ Teachings of the Doctrine and
Covenants $3.00 □ Tell Me A Story $3.00
If you do not wish to mutilate this page, send information required on a separate sheet.
213
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est policy
Modesty is the best policy
Modesty, like honesty in the copy-
book adage, is the best policy.
It is the best policy because it
is best for you.
Modesty is a many-sided virtue. It
applies to your manner of speech,
your manner of dress, your manner of
conduct. And thus it reveals the
manner of person you are.
Take speech. One who is modest
in speech talks with restraint, sticks
to the facts, gives to others the right
to their own opinions wihout com-
promising his own. His opinions are
listened to; his advice is often heeded.
Modesty in dress is another virtue.
Smartness of style and modesty can
go together, and often do. On the
other hand, to flaunt one's figure,
especially before persons of the op-
posite sex, may excite attention but
will not inspire admiration. Immod-
esty in dress is more likely to bring
a "whistle call" of dubious compli-
ment than a sincere proposal of hon-
orable friendship.
Modesty of conduct also brings its
own reward. In a day when vulgar-
ity is sometimes commercialized to
the tune of "off beat" dance steps, it
may take restraint to be modest on
dance floor or in other places, but
true modesty will pay off in the last-
ing trust and enduring friendships
of your companions.
To these rewards of modesty you
can add another — your own self-
respect — and without self-respect you
can never have the true joy of living
which a loving Heavenly Father put
us here to find and cherish. So —
be modest —
BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF
214
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Ifit COLORADO nQ
J
The Vista-Dome Royal Gorge makes a ten-minute stop
in America's most famous travel wonder, the Royal Gorge of the
Arkansas River, to permit passengers ample time for enjoyment
and photography of this marvel of nature.
The "Scenery Unlimited" provided on Rio Grande's
Vista-Dome See-Way through Utah and Colorado is not equaled
anywhere in the world. Make your next trip a pleasure trip ~ • • - ■
. . . travel Rio Grande, The Scenic Line of The World.
• Family Fare Plan • Rail -Auto Plan
• Rail Travel Credit Plan
• Stopover privileges at all points
For information, contact Rio Grande's Travel Center, Ground Floor Corner, Hotel Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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The Vista-Dome CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR • Daily San Francisco-Salt
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(Thru San Francisco-New York Pullman)
The PROSPECTOR • Overnight, every night Salt Lake City-Denver.
The Vista-Dome ROYAL GORGE • Daily Salt Lake City-Grand
Junction- Glen wood Springs- Salida-Pueblo-ColoradoSprings-Denver.
The Vrsfa-Dome COLORADO EAGLE • Dairy St. Louis-Kansas City-
Wichita-Pueblo-Colorado Springs-Denver via M P-D & R G W.
^RicrGrande
Birthplace of the Vista-Dome
DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN RAILROAD
H. F. ENO, Pass. Traffic Mgr., Rio Grande Bldg., Denver, Cole
APRIL 1957
215
/ ft Y?&±^
. '■/■■J'* Jt
SAFEWAY
Sells a River of
MILK
for Utah Dairymen
One of America's most perplexing
agricultural problems of just a year or
two ago was the tremendous surplus of
milk and dairy products.
The problem has largely been solved by
strong promotion and merchandising pro-
grams. Safeway has played an important
role in this development in Utah.
If the Utah-produced milk and milk
products sold through Safeway Stores were
channeled into one stream, they would
make quite a river, because:
All Lucerne Milk requirements for Utah
and Wyoming come from the Federated
Milk Producers Association of Utah.
All the cream for the manufacture of
Party Pride Ice Cream sold through Safe-
way Stores in this area comes from the
Cache Valley Dairymen's Association at
Smithfield, and the Uintah Creamery of
Altamont.
Dried milk products used to make
Mrs. Wright's and Skylark Bread at the
Salt Lake and Denver Fairfax bakeries
for Safeway Stores of nine states come
from Weber Central Dairy Association of
Ogden.
Many other Utah dairy products are
sold through Safeway under the brand
name of the processor.
Total Utah milk and dairy products
purchased by Safeway last year amounted
to $5,245,531.
SAFEWAY IS A FRIEND OF THE FAM-
ILY .. . AND A FRIEND OF THE
DAIRYMAN FARMER
SAFEWAY
The Church moves On
A Day to Day Chronology of Church Events
February 1957
^ The annual "Birthday Penny"
appeal of the Primary Children's
Hospital began. It ran throughout the
month.
fi^ Elder LeGrand Richards of the
Council of the Twelve dedicated
the Redmond Ward chapel — North
Sevier (Utah) Stake recreation hall and
youth center.
This was Boy Scout Sunday in many
of the wards and branches of the
Church. This year's national theme is:
"Onward for God and my Country."
n^ The First Presidency announced
the appointment of Bishop Walter
Trauffer of Lincoln Ward, Granite
(Salt Lake City) Stake, as president of
the Swiss Temple. He succeeds Presi-
dent Samuel E. Bringhurst, who has
served since shortly before the temple
was dedicated. President Trauffer is a
native of Switzerland. His wife and
one daughter will accompany him to
this new assignment.
The First Presidency announced the
appointment of Elder George Franklin
Simmons to succeed President Samuel
A. Hendricks of the West Central States
Mission. President Simmons is the
ward teaching supervisor in the North
Ogden Second Ward, Ben Lomond
(Utah) Stake, and a former bishop of
that ward. He has been a member of
the Blaine (Idaho) Stake high council,
president of the Hazelton Branch, Mini-
doka (Idaho) Stake, and a member of
the bishopric of the Twin Falls (Idaho)
Second Ward. Mrs. Simmons will ac-
company him to the new assignment.
The missionary couple has four married
sons, a married daughter, and a daugh-
ter attending law school in San Fran-
cisco.
In issuing a statement endorsing the
drive by the American Heart Fund, the
First Presidency said in part: "We be-
lieve this to be a very worthy cause, and
one that is deserving of our fullest sup-
port, and we urge the members of the
Church to contribute liberally. . . ."
Earlier in the year the First Presidency
had made a similar statement concern-
ing the polio drive.
111^ President David O. McKay dedi-
cated additions and improvements
to the chapel of the Bountiful First and
Sixth wards chapel. Every President of
the Church, with the exception of the
216
Prophet Joseph Smith, has preached in
this ninety-four-year-old building.
Elder Harold B. Lee of the Council
of the Twelve dedicated the chapel of
the Oak Hills First and Second wards.
The building will also be the East
Sharon (Utah) Stake center.
Kf Elder Harold B. Lee of the Coun-
cil of the Twelve dedicated the
chapel of the Garden Heights and
Garden Heights South wards, Canyon
Rim (Salt Lake City) Stake.
Elder Clifford E. Young, Assistant to
the Council of the Twelve, dedicated the
chapel of the American Fork First and
Fifth wards, Alpine (Utah) Stake.
Elder John Longden, Assistant to the
Council of the Twelve, dedicated the
Twin Falls (Idaho) Stake center. The
building is also the home of the Twin
Falls Fifth and Sixth wards.
Elder Harvey M. Broadbent, formerly
second counselor to President George S.
Haslam of the North Davis (Utah)
Stake, sustained as first counselor, suc-
ceeding Elder Keith S. Smith. Elder
Joseph Cook sustained as the new second
counselor.
Stake and ward Sunday School super-
intendents were asked by the Deseret
Sunday School Union general superin-
tendency to designate this as family
Church attendance day. The request
coincides with the annual national ob-
servance of "Go to Church Week" (Feb-
ruary 11-17) sponsored on a community
basis by the Exchange Clubs.
The First Presidency announced
the appointment of Elder Richard
C. Stratford, first counselor in the presi-
dency of the Portland (Oregon) Stake,
as president of the Northern States Mis-
sion. He succeeds President Isaac A.
Smoot in this assignment. As a young
man, President Stratford filled a mission
in the Swiss-German Mission. He is a
former bishop of the Colonial Heights
Ward in Portland, and from 1942 to
1954 served as second counselor in the
Portland Stake presidency. Mrs. Strat-
ford will accompany him on this mis-
sion, as will three of their five children.
It was announced that the Book of
Mormon had now been recorded as a
"Talking Book" for the Blind. The
making of the fifty records was done
according to the exacting specifications
furnished by the Library of Congress.
Elders Dean Bennett and Allen Jensen
of KSL spent the summer of 1954 read-
ing the Book of Mormon as tape record-
(Concluded on page 285)
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Let Fuller solve
your paint color prcOaLeins
c«
'.V
«<SSr "*%
1 'C %* A
"JTiis room needs repainting/7 said Mrs. O'Day*
The color's so dreary — / know it's passe.
I want something modern and sure to be smart —
But how can I know — and where do I start?"
DearJVErs. CJDay
Fuller can offer you more paint
colors than anyone else! And
you can be sure they're smart
and modern because Fuller con-
stantly weeds out the old and
adds the new. Also — you'll find
more professional guides on
color-combining— at your Fuller
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3dJemo -to Hvsbands
* We made up the gal's name, but old walls like this can be only too true.
Cheer up — it costs
less than $15 to
paint an average
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Besides— Ful-Color
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This is the sign fir help, help, help on color
. . . more help than you'll find anywhere else — and
right where you buy the paint and all related
items. See how easy it is to be your own decorator
— at your Fuller Color Planning Dealer.
FULLER
PAINTS • GLASS
W. P. FULLER & CO.
NEW!
GOSPEL TRUTH
DISCOURSES AND WRITINGS
of
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
Compiled by Jerreld L. Newquist
Here at long last is the compila-
tion for which the members of
the Church have been eagerly
looking . . . the choicest writings
and discourses of one of the
greatest gospel authorities of
his day, President George Q.
Cannon, first counselor to Presi-
dents John Taylor, Wilford Wood-
ruff and Lorenzo Snow. These
writings include important gos-
pel truths concerning the pre-
existence and mortality,
resurrection, The Last Days, the
spirit world, future glories,
miracles, apostleship, and rev-
elation. In this, the first of two
volumes, there is a fascinating
biographical sketch of President
Cannon written by the book's
compiler and an interesting fore-
word by Edwin Q. Cannon.
"Gospel Truth" is a vital volume
for every Latter-day Saint to
read and enjoy.
BOOKCRAFT
Available at Bookcraft
Dealers everywhere.
218
America's Smoking Habits*
■ pproximately 38,000,000 Ameri-
/l cans are regular cigaret smokers,
■*■ *• although a million and a half
have quit smoking entirely in the last
eighteen months, according to esti-
mates based on a representative sam-
ple of about 40,000 persons surveyed
by the U S Bureau of the Census for
the National Cancer Institute of the
Public Health Service, Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare.
The data will be of value to Na-
tional Cancer Institute statisticians
and physicians who are studying the
incidence of cancer in the popula-
tion— particularly lung cancer — in re-
lationship to smoking habits. A
number of laboratory and field studies
are being done by the Public Health
Service, and by other agencies and
institutions with the aid of federal
grants or other financial support.
These studies are designed to pro-
vide more information on the ques-
tion of whether or not lung cancer
is related to cigaret smoking.
The figures released jointly by the
Census Bureau and the National
Cancer Institute are preliminary re-
sults based on interviews conducted
early this year by census takers with
both men and women over seventeen
years of age in the urban non-in-
stitutional population. The survey
covered 230 areas consisting of about
450 counties scattered through all
regions of the country.
Estimates based on the data thus
far give the following information
about the smoking habits of Ameri-
cans:
The 38,000,000 cigaret smokers in-
clude 25,000,000 men and 13,000,000
women.
About 4,000,000 of the men who
are cigaret smokers consume less than
a pack a day. One-half million smoke
more than two packs a day. The
majority smoke ten to twenty cigarets
a day. Two million others smoke
cigarets occasionally.
Two out of every three men twenty-
five to sixty-four years old in the total
population smoke regularly in one
form or another.
Non-farm men are heavier smokers
than those who live on farms, and
white men smoke more than non-
whites. In the South, for example,
about one -fourth of the white men
(Concluded on page 258)
•Taken from the Texas Health Bulletin.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Comes Spring!
by Dorothy O. Rea
—Frank J. Miller photo
JL've a new coin for a beggar,
A cookie for a child.
I've sun and rain in flower cups
From fields with spring grown wild.
(Jne winter day my tears fell
On brown earth overturned.
The child and beggar waited
While black grief seared and burned.
rOMES springtime, and one sacred link
Brown earth and stars does join
And I, both child and beggar,
Have a newly minted coin.
APRIL 1957
219
HERE ON OUR HILL
By Mabel Jones Gabbott
A h, this is heaven . . . you and the warm-
■'■■ ing sun and lilac scent
Here on our hill;
And soul-deep conversation
to the long hour's fill.
But were there neither sun nor lilac,
only you . . .
It would be heaven still.
APRIL ENCHANTMENT
By Ethel Jacobson
W/hat enchantment rain can weave
With her pallid hands!
Down her silver curtain falls — ■
There Spring stands
In the narrow city street
Where the asphalt gleams,
Just as on a mountain height
Where Pan dreams.
Rain falls sweet to sparrows here
Beneath a city hedge,
While flowers nod as gratefully
From a window ledge.
What enchantment rain can weave
With her pallid hands!
Down her silver curtain falls —
There Spring stands.
MOMENT OF RADIANCE
By ]ane Merchant
^Fins day in spring I meant to take
A leisured pilgrimage, to make
The luminous, ethereal shine
Of April hills entirely mine,
Having no higher thing to do
Than let the living green and blue
Completely permeate my heart,
Becoming an intrinsic part
Of all I am. But there was need
Of me indoors. I could not heed
The blossoming day; till in one small
Moment of radiance I glimpsed all
Of blue and green, at daylight's end,
That any heart could comprehend.
APRIL HEART
By Solveig Paulson Russell
have an April heart,
Blythe and swelling gay;
It wants to sing with everything,
For April's way
Of coaxing silent laughter
To every growing thing
Has bubbled through my winter heart
And now — It's Spring!
SILENCE
By Pauline Havard
W/ho can define silence? A song
" More lovely than any sound,
Like a snowflake falling on new snow,
A star to the starry ground.
The beautiful words that are left unsaid
When the heart is too full to speak;
The breath of the wind through apple-
bloom;
The sunlight's touch on the cheek
Of a laughing child on an April day;
Silence is all these things;
And always to the responsive heart,
How eloquently it sings!
220
TOPSY-TURVY SPRING
By Ila Lewis Funderburgh
Cpring came rushing down the hill,
Scurry, scamper, hurry;
She mixed up sunshine, hail, and rain
And caused a sudden flurry.
She hung a curve of rainbow up,
Skipped off and left it there,
Then made the apple tree to bloom,
Forgot the peach and pear.
Bright asters of the fall she waked,
But left snowdrops in bed;
The paint she mixed for the robin's breast
Was blue instead of red.
It was a topsy-turvy spring
Below ground and above;
Spring ignored schedules, forgot rules,
The year she fell in love.
UNLABELED DREAM
By Alma Robison Higbee
I found the box unlabeled, tucked away
Beneath the stairs, and when I looked
inside,
I found a kite, once blue, now faded gray,
Shaped like a bird; it was a small boy's
pride
When days were winged and April air was
thinned,
And boy and kite went soaring down the
wind.
New kites will fade and little boys grow tall,
And skyways open down the distant blue;
Deep is the smoke that sets a screening wall,
And sad is the heart when flying days are
through.
Where is the balm to heal a broken wing,
Or April wind, for a dream on a white
twine string?
— H. Armstrong Roberts photo
SPRING OUTLOOK
By Maude Rubin
Between crisp curtains looped in fresh de-
sign
The house surveys its world, serene, clear-
eyed;
Sees winter blankets blowing on the line,
Like flags of spring, while feather dusters
glide
Across a polished sky. Each hurrying bird
Now carries straw or string; the fawn-eyed
cow
Breakfasts on buttercups, while timothy's
word
Promises fragrance heaped in winter's mow;
Above the highest hill, one fragile toy,
A bright blue kite . . . heaven tethered to a
boy!
AWAKENING
By Marie L. Weaver
Even in the grown-up clothes,
Though they fit his slender frame with
certain oddness,
He is young —
So very young.
Strange pain is this that wrings
My heart,
Strange because it swiftly moves to pride.
And I watch him go\ . .
For one short breath of time
Tomorrow stands high on a hill,
And I ... I catch a flood
Of understanding . . .
On feathered toes, soft as twilight,
My boy is gone —
And in his place a man appears.
SONG FOR BEING NEEDED
By Elaine V. Emans
Just knowing you are there will help," she
wrote,
And being here takes on a lovely new
Significance. I read the little note
Over and over, knowing that too few
Times we let others see that we have need
Of them: our self-sufficiency appears
And hides from view our hearts that often
bleed
And teaches us that we must weep few
tears.
But learning one is needed is so good
A thing, that I shall search for ways of
showing
The unsuspecting ones, who never should
Have guessed, I need them. And you, al-
ready knowing
I need you, will henceforth be happier
About it, mark my words, than ever you
were!
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Just a Bit of
Heaven on Earth
There are few if any things more objectionable in the
home than the absence of unity and harmony. On
•the other hand, I know that a home in which unity,
mutual helpfulness, and love abide is just a bit of heaven
on earth. Most gratefully and humbly, I cherish the
remembrance that never once as a lad in the home of
my youth did I see one instance of discord between
Father and Mother and that goodwill and mutual un-
derstanding have been the uniting bond that has held
together a fortunate group of brothers and sisters. Unity,
harmony, and goodwill are virtues to be fostered and cher-
ished in every home.
Marriage is a sacred relationship entered into for the
purposes that are well recognized — primarily for the rear-
ing of a family.
Equal in importance to the high conception of the
marriage covenant is the teaching of the Church in re-
gard to the responsibility of parenthood.
Parenthood should be held as a sacred obligation. There
is something in the depths of the human soul which
revolts against neglectful parenthood.
Parents cannot with impunity shirk the responsibility
to protect childhood and youth.
I believe you parents generally are teaching your chil-
dren the gospel; yet I am convinced that there is still
much opportunity for improvement in this regard. I am
not thinking of the set hours in which you sit down to
teach these doctrines to your children, but of the exam-
ple you fathers and mothers give to your children re-
garding the faith that is dear to your hearts. Your exam-
ples as parents will teach these principles more effectively
than what you say. Out of your homes come the future
leaders of the Church.
Fathers may and should exercise a helpful, restraining
influence, where a mother's tenderness and love might
lead children to take advantage of her. In this respect,
however, every father should keep in mind that he was
once a mischievous youngster himself and deal with his
boys sympathetically.
Every home has both body and spirit. You may have
a beautiful house with all the decorations that modern
art can give or wealth bestow. You may have all the
outward forms that will please the eye and yet not have
a home. It is not a home without love. It may be a
hovel, a log hut, a tent, a wickiup, if you have the right
spirit within, the true love of Christ, and love for one
another — fathers and mothers for children, children for
parents, husband and wife for each other — you have the
true life of the home that loyal members of the Church
are striving to establish.
By the art of home building, I mean the inculcating
in the lives of children a nobility of soul that leads them
instinctively to love the beautiful, the genuine, the virtu-
ous, and as instinctively to turn from the ugly, the
spurious, and the vile.
If you were to ask me where I first received my un-
wavering faith in the existence of God, I would answer
you: in the home of my childhood — when Father and
Mother invariably called their children around them in
the morning and at night and invoked God's blessing
upon the household and upon mankind. There was a
sincerity in that good patriarch's voice that left an un-
dying impression in the children's souls; and Mother's
prayers were equally impressive.
The dearest possession a man has is his family. In
the divine assurance that family ties can transcend the
bounds of death and may continue throughout endless
ages of eternity, I find supreme consolation and inspira-
tion. When the union of loved ones bears the seal of
the Holy Priesthood, it is as eternal as love, as everlast-
ing as spirit. Such a union is based on the doctrine of
immortality and the eternal progress of man.
This is your heritage as you contemplate your eternal
partnership, and I pray that you realize it and find the
true joy and happiness of such a cherished ideal.
by President David O. McKay
APRIL 1957
221
liilliiill
by Joseph Fielding Smith
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE TWELVE
The Apostle Paul and Genealogical Research
"The Prophet Joseph Smith said, 'The
p4P greatest responsibility the Lord has laid
upon us is to seek after our dead.'1 The Genealogical
Society workers come to us saying that it is our duty to
search the records of the dead and obtain all the gene-
alogical information that we can, that we may go to the
temples and do work for them. Now I would like to
know how we can square this with the doctrine of Paul,
as found in the epistles to Timothy and Titus, in which
he condemns genealogical research. Is it because this
work was not for Paul's day?"
Answer:
The counsel given to Timothy and
Titus by Paul and the commandment
given by the Lord to Joseph Smith appear in conflict
only when Paul's remarks are misunderstood. The Lord
revealed to Joseph Smith the glorious principles of salva-
tion for the dead who died without the opportunity to
receive the gospel when they were on the earth. Elijah
was sent to restore the sealing power by which families
may be united eternally and to turn the hearts of the
fathers to their children, and the children to the fathers,
lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse.2 Because
of the restoration, the spirit of research has taken hold
of thousands of persons in all parts of the civilized earth,
and the Latter-day Saints have been commanded to pre-
pare the records of their dead and go to the temples, there
to perform vicariously all the ordinances of salvation for
them. This promise was made through the prophets an-
ciently as well as in this dispensation. The dead who
will accept the work done for them shall receive eternal
life.3
The Lord inspired people anciently to keep records and
histories of their people. If there had been no gene-
alogical records kept, we would be without a great fund
of knowledge in relation to the nations of the past and
their relationship to the people of this generation. Record-
keeping of this kind has been a common practice in
almost all nations, especially was it so of the Israelites.
teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 356.
2See 'D & C 27 9
8D & G 1:1-3; DHC, Vol. 3:280; Isaiah 42:7 and 61:1-2; Malachi 4:5-6.
222
Some of the most interesting and important records on
which we rely are found in Genesis and the books of
Moses in the Old Testament. The Lord commanded
that a census be taken as the Israelites were about to enter
the land of their inheritance.4 If these records had not
been kept, we would not have the genealogies of our
Redeemer in Matthew and Luke. When the Jews re-
turned from Babylon, after the captivity, they were
judged out of the records, and those with clouded lineage
were denied the privileges of the priesthood and the tem-
ple.5 The keeping of genealogical records is essential to
the accomplishment of the work assigned to the Latter-
day Saints that they may become saviors on Mt. Zion by
performing the ordinances for their dead. This would be
impossible without records of our dead being available.
Many of the sayings of Paul and other prophets have
come down to us in imperfect form due to faulty trans-
lations and misinterpretations. Perhaps we do not have
the full text of Paul's instruction to Timothy and Titus.
We may be sure, however, that he would not take a
stand in opposition to the teachings of the prophets who
went before him. Genealogical research must have been
done in the days of Paul which he did not condemn,
for salvation for the dead was practised in his day, and
he called attention to this fact, using it as an argument
in favor of the resurrection.0 However, there was no
vicarious work done before the resurrection of our Lord.
Paul's reference to "fables and endless genealogies" im-
plies that he was condemning a practice that had been
perverted, or he would not have called the practice
"fables."7 We may conclude, then, that there was a
practice among the Jews in which the preparing of
genealogies was fraudulently done. Bible commentators
declare this to be the fact. Dr. Adam Clark in his
Commentary calls attention to this fraudulent practice
and gives the reason for it in the following words:
"The Jews had scrupulously preserved their genealog-
ical tables, till the advent of Christ; and the evangelists
had recourse to them, and appealed to them in reference
<Gen., Chapters 10-11; Numbers, Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 16; I Chron., Chapters 1-8.
EEzra and Nehemiah.
61 Cor. 15:29.
'I Tim. 1:4.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
to our Lord's descent from the house of David: Matthew
taking this genealogy of the descending, Luke of the
ascending line. And whatever difficulties we may now
find in these genealogies, they were certainly clear to
the Jews; nor did the most determined enemies of the
gospel attempt to raise one objection to it from the appeal
which the evangelists had made to their own public and
accredited tables. All was then certain; but we are told
that Herod destroyed the public registers: he, being an
Idumean, was jealous of the noble origin of the Jews:
and that none might be able to reproach him with his
descent, he ordered the genealogical tables, which were
kept among the archives in the temple, to be burned. * * *
From this time the Jews could refer to their genealogies
only from memory, or from those imperfect tables which
had been preserved in private hands; and to make out
any regular line from these, must have been endless and
uncertain. It is probably to this the apostle refers; I
mean the endless and useless labor which the attempt
to make out these genealogies must produce; the au-
thentic tables being destroyed."8
So we may well conclude that Paul's denunciation was
towards doubtful and untruthful genealogies which had
been tampered with for improper purposes. Dr. Scott
in his Commentary treats this matter in a similar way.
sClark's Commentary, Vol. VI, page 555, on Timothy 1:4.
§
Work — <
a principle ana a prwueae
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Richard L. Evans
T ast week we talked of the fallacy of being free
from work — and of the fact that we can't eat
or travel, or use any substance or any service with-
out consuming someone's work — no matter how
mechanized men's lives become. And further we
recalled the fact that the Lord God could have made
life free from work if he had thought it were wise —
but this he did not do. And so today, we repeat,
that work is a principle and a privilege, and not
merely a penalty. The philosophy of being free
from work is a false philosophy and the fashion
of being free from work is a false fashion. And now
further on this thought, we should like to talk a
moment or two to young people preparing for the
future. To them, earnestly and urgently, we would
say: Consider carefully the kind of work you want
to do, the kind of work you are best adapted to do,
and don't make avoiding work your ideal or ob-
jective. If you do, you won't develop your talents
or your full powers of performance. If you do, you
may work harder at wasting time than you would
at working. If you do, you'll deteriorate faster
than you would with working. If you do, you will
have a feeling of frustration and futility and a dis-
content inside yourselves — for any day that closes
without a sincere sense of accomplishment is an
empty and unsatisfying day. Furthermore, there
is no real prestige without work. (Anyone who
supposes that he can have influence without re-
sponsibility, or prestige without paying a price, or
a real sense of satisfaction without willing work,
is only seeking to deceive himself.) And now to
this witness of our words, we would add the word
of other witnesses. First from Emerson: "In every
variety of human employment . . . there are [those]
who do their task perfunctorily, as we say, or just
to pass, and as badly as they dare . . . [and there
are] those who love work, and love to see it rightly
done, who finish their task . . . and the state and
world is happy, that has the most of such finishers.
. . . Men talk as if victory were something fortunate.
Work is victory."1 And from Carlyle, once more
we quote: "Idleness alone is without hope: work
earnestly at anything, you will by degrees learn
to work at almost all things."2 "For there is a
perennial nobleness, and even sacredness, in Work.
. . . There is always hope in a man that actually
and earnestly works: . . ."3 "For that is the thing
a man is born to ... to expend every particle of
strength that God Almighty has given him in doing
the work he finds he is fit for; to stand up to it to
the last breath of life, and to do his best. We are
called upon to do that; ... I would bid you stand
up to your work, whatever it may be, and not be
afraid of it."4
Jhe S^pokt
Wo J"
)poken vi/ora from temple square
PRESENTED OVER KSL AND THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING
SYSTEM, FEBRUARY 17, 1957
Copyright 1957
aRaIph Waldo Emerson, Worship.
2Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, Ch. II.
3Ibid., Ch. XI.
4Thomas Carlyle, Inaugural Address, at Edinburgh, 1866.
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APRIL 1957
223
80 Years
Service
to Our
Lord
RESEARCH EDITOR
The Saint George Temple.
It is difficult to believe that the
St. George Temple — first of the
permanent temples to be con-
structed by the Church after the
exodus to the Rocky Mountains — has
stood in the southwestern part of
Utah for only eighty years. To us
of this generation, that stately old
sandstone building, finished in glis-
tening white, has always stood there
as a beacon, the fountainhead of
spiritual blessings for all those who
would prepare themselves to enter
its friendly doors.
Families had been called at the
October 1861 semi-annual conference
of the Church to pioneer the proposed
settlement of St. George. Their "mis-
sion" was to raise cotton and to con-
tribute to the independence and
self-sustaining power of the people.
By December 1 of that year some of
the residents were camped there.
There followed a period of struggling
pioneering. Canals had to be dug,
virgin soil made into farms; and
droughts and floods and insect hordes
took their share. It seemed that na-
ture herself was trying the hardy
settlers of St. George.
224
But less than a decade after the
settlement's humble beginning, the
announcement came that a temple
would be built at St. George. Charles
L. Walker, writing in his diary for
Saturday, April 15, 1871, paints this
word picture:
This p. m. I went to the school of the
prophets. A letter was read from Brother
Brigham stating the time had come that
the Saints could build a temple to the Most
High in St. George. A thrill of joy seemed
to pass over the assembly of Elders present
at the announcement. It is to be built of
stone, plastered inside and out. The length
190 feet, width 142 feet, and 80 feet high,
two stories with a large hall in each story,
with rooms on each side, and a baptismal
font in the basement. Brother Brigham and
George A. Smith will be down next October
to commence the work and give directions
concerning its erection.
Not only had the President of the
Church announced that a temple
would be built; he had also sent the
general specifications of the building.
A pamphlet distributed at the St.
George Temple Bureau of Information
gives the dimensions of the temple
as "141 feet 8 inches long, 93 feet 4
inches wide, 84 feet high to the
square or parapet, and 175 feet high
to the top of the vane on the tower."
On October 14, 1942, one day be-
fore his eighty-second birthday, David
Henry Cannon, Jr., related that Presi-
dent Young had asked the people in
St. George to make recommendations
for a temple site, and after several
places were visited, President Young
was informed that the townspeople
could not agree upon a site.
Elder Cannon continued:
"President Young, arriving later,
somewhat impatiently chided them,
and at the same time asked them to
get into their wagons, or whatever
else they had, and with him find a
location [site for the temple] .
"To the south of town they finally
stopped.
" 'But, Brother Brigham,' protested
the men, 'this land is boggy. After
a storm, and for several months of the
year, no one can drive across the
land without horses and wagons
sinking way down. There is no place
to build a foundation.'
" 'We will make a foundation,' said
President Young."
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Then Brother Cannon continued:
"Later on, while plowing and
scraping where the foundation was to
be, my horse's leg broke through the
ground into a spring of water. The
brethren then wanted to move the
foundation line twelve feet to the
south, so that the spring of water
would be on the outside of the tem-
ple.
' 'Not so,' replied President Young.
'We will wall it up and leave it here
for some future use. But we cannot
move the foundation. This spot was
dedicated by the Nephites. They
could not build it [the temple], but
we can and will build it for them.'
"To this day the water from that
very spring is running through a
drain properly built."*
Ground was broken for the build-
ing on November 9, 1871, after a post-
ponement of some seventy-two hours
because of inclement weather. As
part of these ceremonies, Brigham
Young had the people present raise
their right hands toward heaven. As
they struck their right hand with their
left hand, they shouted, "Hosanna!
Hosanna! Hosanna! to God and the
Lamb; Amen! Amen!"
By three o'clock that afternoon men
and teams had commenced excavating.
A limestone edge was found on the
north, which was suitable for a
foundation, but the excavation proved
that the rest of the site was swampy
indeed. With pioneer ingenuity, they
converted a cannon of the Mexican
War vintage into a pile driver. A
thousand pound lead weight was thus
devised and, tied together with cotton-
wood bark and steel bands, was actu-
ally used to drive volcanic rocks into
that foundation site. Only when this
hammer would bounce three times
before coming to rest were the build-
ers satisfied that they had enough
rocks pounded into an area. It has
been said that there is more stone
below the surface than there is in the
building above the ground.
John L. Smith, who had been ap-
pointed to visit members in the
interest of the temple construction,
made this summation on December
31, 1875:
Wilford Woodruff
served as temple pres-
ident, 1877-1884.
first of the LDS temples in the west . . . the stately
St. George Temple serves today, as it has for eighty years,
as a refuge of spiritual strength.
Since April 12, we have traveled 3,342
miles, held 161 meetings, and collected over
$15,000.00 and offerings for the temple.
Those offerings included flour, po-
tatoes, cheese, meat, and other com-
modities which would be used to
sustain those laboring on the temple.
For much of that year, 1875, one
hundred men were working at the
temple site, one hundred at the stone
quarries, and forty were engaged in
obtaining lumber.
President Young had promised the
faithful "that there would not
be any persons who would lose their
lives on any of the works of this tem-
ple." During the construction period
men accidentally fell from scaffold-
ing more than eighty feet above the
ground, others fell from runaway
wagons loaded with rocks, and there
were other accidents. Miraculously,
all lived to raise their voices in testi-
mony and to return to their free-will
labor of love upon the temple.
Over a million feet of lumber were
used in the building. Some of the
beams were twelve inches by twenty-
four inches, ranging in length from
twenty-six to forty-six feet. Much
of the lumber was hauled by ox team
from Mt. Trumbull, some eighty miles
distant. Other lumber came from
Pine Valley Mountain, only thirty
miles away, and from the Buckskin
Mountains of the Kaibab Forest. Some
of the lumber had to be hauled over
desert stretches, where it was neces-
*Statement witnessed by E. Ernest and Zilpha H.
Bramwell of Salt Lake City and Richard S. McAllister
of St. George.
APRIL 1957
Night or day the building is a landmark.
Daniel H. Wells
dedicated the com-
pleted building, April
6, 1877.
sary to take water in the empty
wagons and cache it en route so that
the teams might not surfer on the re-
turn journey, which took from two to
seven days of hard driving.
What a price in love and devotion
those settlers of Utah's Dixie willing-
ly gave the Church!
The baptismal font, which rests on
the back of twelve oxen in the base-
ment of the building, weighs nine
tons and was the personal gift of
President Young. It was made in
Salt Lake City and freighted to St.
George in three specially-built wag-
ons.
President Young had hoped that
the temple would be completed by
September 1876; it was not finished
until that winter. President Wilford
Woodruff, then a member of the
Council of the Twelve, offered the
dedicatory prayer. A final dedica-
tion was held April 6, 1877, when the
general conference of the Church was
held in that building. This dedica-
tory prayer was offered by President
Daniel H. Wells, a Counselor to
President Young.
TT'or eighty years the St. George
* Temple has been a blessing to
the people of the Church. May it
continue to serve many times those
eighty years!
Before the other temples of the
Church were finished, it was not
uncommon for members to spend
weeks en route to St. George for the
privilege of coming to this House of
(Concluded on page 287)
225
-Photo by Samuel Myslis
TESTIMONY
by Elder Delbert L. Stapley
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE TWELVE
I desire to bear my humble testi-
mony that the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints is true,
therefore is God's only recognized
Church on earth. This truth the
Savior declared by revelation through
Joseph Smith to the elders of the
Church, as found in section one of the
Doctrine and Covenants, which con-
stitutes the Lord's preface to the
doctrines, covenants, and command-
ments given in this dispensation. The
Lord declared:
And also those to whom these command-
ments were given, might have power to lay
the foundation of this, church, and to bring
it forth out of obscurity and out of dark-
ness, the only true and living church upon
the face of the whole earth, with which I,
the Lord, am well pleased. . . . (D & C 1:30.)
226
This, I acknowledge, is the state-
ment of one man, but many who knew
him have testified that he was a
Prophet of God. His works bespeak
that sacred calling. The Holy Ghost
has borne that witness to hundreds
of thousands today, and they so testify
to the world.
I bear witness that God lives and
is the Father of our Spirits, in whose
image and likeness we are created.
I bear testimony that Jesus is the
Christ, the Savior of men, the Only
Begotten of the Eternal Father in the
flesh, through whose atoning sacrifice
on Calvary we can gain redemption,
salvation, and exaltation in God's
holy presence.
I testify that Joseph Smith was a
Prophet of God, who stands at the
head of this the Dispensation of the
Fulness of Times, in which God is to
gather . together all things in Christ
before the end shall come.
I testify that no man could ac-
complish the work the Prophet
Joseph Smith accomplished without
God being with him. The Prophet
was martyred at thirty-eight, yet he
had set up by divine appointment and
heavenly power the foundation of a
great church, built temples and cities,
was a revelator and a translator, giv-
ing to the world marvelous truths,
principles, and the saving gospel
ordinances.
I testify that no man could give
to the world the truths, principles, and
commandments found in the Book
of Mormon and Doctrine and Cove-
nants without the inspiration and
revelations of Almighty God. No
man promoting a spurious book would
have the audacity to place in it the
promise found in the Book of Mor-
mon:
And when ye shall receive these things,
I would exhort you that ye would ask God,
the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ,
if these things are not true; and if ye
shall ask with a sincere heart, with real
intent, having faith in Christ, he will mani-
fest the truth of it unto you, by the power
of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye
may know the truth of all things. (Mor.
10:4-5.)
What a far-reaching promise! Man
has not refuted the claim. Many
have received that assurance and
witness. Thousands have put the
promise to the test; the Holy Ghost
has manifested the truth of the Book
of Mormon to them. They are now
converts and members of the restored
Church. With all members, they
fervently bear testimony of this truth
to all the world.
I promise you, that by doing the
will of the Father, and keeping your-
selves unspotted from the sins of the
world, you too can gain a fervent
testimony that these things are true.
When such a testimony is obtained,
do not do anything that would cause
you to lose this witness. It is most
precious! Sin and inactivity can drive
out the Holy Ghost and callous the
soul against the light and truth of
the Spirit. You must always remem-
ber that God is perfect, and to be like
him you, too, must perfect your-
selves, resting your faith and works
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
upon God and his Son, Jesus Christ,
and not upon man.
But the natural man receiveth not the
tilings of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(I Cor. 2:14.)
Today there is so much offered by
man, the counterfeit as well as the
good, it is easy, unless an individual
stays close to the Church and its
teachings, to get mixed up in his
values. In the Doctrine and Cove-
nants, we read:
And if your eye be single to my glory,
your whole bodies shall be fdled with light,
and there shall be no darkness in you; and
that body which is filled with light compre-
hended all things. (D & C 88:67.)
You cannot take darkness into a
lighted room, nor can doubt be cre-
ated where true faith exists. You
can, however, take light into a dark-
ened room, and it will light the room
with radiance, as the darkened soul
through repentance and faith can
be lighted up and made glorious by
the gift and power of the Holy Ghost.
In the Apostle Paul's writings to
the Colossian saints he said that all
the treasures of wisdom and knowl-
edge were hid in the Father and his
Son, Jesus Christ. He informs the
saints of this lest any man should be-
guile them with enticing words, and
then he says:
Beware lest any man spoil you through
I philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradi-
tion of men, after the rudiments of the
world, and not after Christ. (Col. 2:8.)
Paul is warning against man's
philosophy, which was after the
world, imperfectly developed because
they were the thoughts and theories
of imperfect men. He also warns
against the learned philosophers who,
because of their knowledge, are vain,
self-important, and teaching false
concepts for truth. These teachings
have come down to us after the tradi-
tion of men, but not after Christ. If
after Christ, the teachings could only
be perfect truth, because he is God
and God is truth. Unfortunately, the
philosophies of men handed down
through the ages have become ac-
cepted traditionally as truth, and thus
men so versed esteem highly this
knowledge and freely teach it for
truth. These teachers of man's
philosophy often persuade tender, im-
Elder Delbert L. Stapley
mature minds to accept as basic
truths such theories, and thus youth
become convinced or confused in their
thinking. They lose the faith; then
moral principles begin to crumble and
choice souls are lost to God.
The Apostle Paul said to a favorite
son in Christ —
O Timothy, keep that which is committed
to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain
babblings, and oppositions of science falsely
so called:
Which some professing have erred con-
cerning the faith. (I Tim. 6:20-21.)
Paul desired his beloved Timothy
to avoid the common, the worldly, the
worthless idle talk, and the opposi-
tions of false scientific teachings
which had caused some to be led
astray.
There is no conflict between true
science and true religion. Science is
concerned with facts and truths.
Scientific men speculate and theorize
in research to establish facts and
truths but until proven their theories
must not be accepted as the ultimate.
Unless such teachings harmonize with
revealed truth, they could destroy
true faith and thus result in unhappy
lives.
How well Satan is acquainted with
and takes advantage of people to de-
ceive the unsuspecting. Jacob, the
brother of Nephi, voices this warning:
O that cunning plan of the evil one! O
the vainness, and the frailties, and the fool-
ishness of men! When they are learned
they think they are wise, and they hearken
not unto the counsel of God, for they set
it aside, supposing they know of themselves,
wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and
it profiteth them not. And they shall
perish.
But to be learned is good if they hearken
unto the counsels of God. (2 Nephi 9:28-
29.)
Why do men think themselves wise
in their own vain deceit — what does
it profit? Why should men ignore
the counsels and revealed truths of
God, considering more important the
learning and wisdom of men and
promoting it contrary to the knowl-
edge and wisdom that comes from
God?
Should any of you consider your-
selves belonging to the intelligentsia,
I would advise you to keep humble
and to hearken always to the coun-
sels of God. We less fortunate stand
in awe at your mental powers and
capacities. You have the abilities to
accomplish great things! Your achieve-
ments, however, will bring to you
greater renown if humble and sincere
faith in God becomes your chief vir-
tue and motivating force. According
to the Savior's parable of the talents,
God gives to men according to their
several abilities and requires an ac-
counting for their use. Regardless of
the many gifts an individual has,
there is always someone with more
gifts and of greater intelligence. Re-
member, God said to Abraham,
These two facts do exist, that there are
two spirits, one being more intelligent than
the other; there shall be another more in-
telligent than they; I am the Lord thy God,
I am more intelligent than they all. (Abr.
3:19.)
God then, in whom all knowledge
and wisdom centers, is the source to
which all should turn for the true way
of life.
Joseph Smith, although of a tender
age, put this scripture to the test:
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask
of God, that giveth to all men liberal'y,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him. (James 1 :5.)
and was inspired and authorized to
organize God's Church on the earth,
with all its saving laws and ordi-
nances. Prayer and God, then, be-
come the true source of all our
knowledge, wisdom, and strength.
We should always remember that
revealed truth is the measuring rod
and the basis of all law and moral
behavior among Christian peoples.
Therefore, do not accept the teach-
ings and philosophies of men con-
(Concluded on following page)
APRIL 1957
227
Testimony
(Continued from preceding page)
trary to the teachings of God through
his Son, Jesus Christ, or the prophets.
Teachers of the sciences or philosophy
do not have the moral right to teach
the principles, scientific theories, or
philosophies of men contrary to the
revealed truths taught by Christ and
his prophets in all ages of the world.
Such truths are fundamental; they are
eternal and never become obsolete or
incapable of wise use.
Clifford F. Hood, president of the
United States Steel Corporation, re-
cently said:
I think no one will seriously challenge
me if I say that we have been living in a
period of unbelief, a serious unbelief in the
fundamental purposes of man and his im-
portance and position in the universe. All
who have lost the faith, I believe, feel a
real void in their lives. With no positive
code of values, their lives have lost a feel-
ing of significance in this cosmic environ-
ment. In all humility and sincerity we shall
have to admit a power higher than our-
selves, from whom is derived a positive moral
code that will give our lives significance.
We shall have to make up our minds once
and for all that honesty, respect, and honor,
as such, are not for sale on the market
block, except as they become ingredients
that you and I and all Americans put into
the products of our daily lives.
There is more virtue and power in
the simple teachings of Christ than
is contained in all the philosophies of
men, and his teachings will do more
to produce proper attitudes, build
beautiful characters, develop true
principles of service, and also give life
purpose with a greater measure of
joy and happiness to each of us than
any other teachings can.
The Prophet Joel declared a most
significant bit of information and
light on the great knowledge and dis-
coveries of our day in this prophecy:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that
I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions. (Joel
2:28.)
This prophecy was to come to pass
afterward, or, in the latter days.
There are two parts to this prophecy
that are very expressive. First, the
Lord's Spirit was to be poured out
upon all flesh. This is represented
by the Spirit that gives light to every
man that comes into the world. It
is this power that makes possible our
228
modern progress in the fields of sci-
ence and invention with the conven-
iences and the material and physical
blessings we enjoy today. Second is
the gift and power of the Holy Ghost
which is to manifest its spiritual gifts
to men that will cause them to
prophesy, to dream dreams, and to see
visions.
From the very introduction of the
gospel and the establishment of God's
work in these the latter days of the
world, the Spirit of Christ has been
poured out upon all men, for knowl-
edge is everywhere present. We can
determine the progress of our times
from the beginning of his work which
ushered in this the Dispensation of
the Fulness of Times. Truly, the
heavens have been opened and God
has poured down knowledge upon
men almost without measure.
The discoveries and material in-
ventions given us by science are
miracles. We stand in amazement
at man's accomplishments! It is dif-
ficult to understand how he could
achieve so much in so short a time
compared to the life of man on this
earth. But under the influence of the
Spirit spoken of by Joel that v75s to
be poured out upon all flesh, perhaps
we can understand why we are re-
ceiving the marvelous blessings of
scientific discovery and invention.
Men share in the glory of that knowl-
edge and all enjoy the blessings of
it. Truly, it is as Christ stated in
the parable on stewardship, "For the
children of this world are in their
generation wiser than the children of
light." (Luke 16:8.)
When we measure material or
temporal things, this appears true,
but when we think of the true values
of the Spirit that emanate from the
Holy Ghost, it is not true. Knowl-
edge of physical and temporal things
is separate and distinct from the gifts
and operations of the Holy, Ghost,
the spiritual gifts of prophecy, dreams,
visions, revelations, and others. These
have to do with the salvation and
exaltation of man, his very eternal
status in the mansions of God.
It is significant that when God re-
leases truth to the earth, it is not
confined to one area or nation but is
available to all, and discovery is al-
most simultaneous in many of the
advanced scientific nations of the
world. Science and invention have
given so much, the material values
seem so important, we may overlook
in our scramble for these things the
eternal values of life that make for
true happiness.
The great discoveries of our age —
radio, television, radar, guided mis-
siles, and planes — achieved by man
are miracles, but God creates worlds,
guides and controls them as he does
all the works of his hands. He cre-
ates life, which phenomena man
cannot achieve. We are a part of
that life — God's greatest creation, for
it is his work and glory to bring to
pass the immortality and the eternal
life of his children. As children of
God, we have the powers within us
to upgrade ourselves and become like
our Eternal Father. This we can
do by perfecting our inherent gifts
and endowments of the Spirit and
also by sanctifying our souls through
righteous pursuits.
Paul made this declaration and ex-
planation to the Corinthian saints:
And I, brethren, when I came to you,
came not with excellency of speech or of
wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony
of God.
For I determined not to know any thing
among you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified.
That your faith should not stand in the
wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them
that are perfect. ... (I Cor. 2:1-2, 5-6.)
Here is an important key: Wisdom
increases in proportion to our own
perfectness. Our greatest teacher
of wisdom — Christ, being perfect, had
complete access to the wisdom of
God — "For it pleased the Father that
in him should all fulness dwell."
(Col. 1:19.) And, again, in John we
read, ". . . for God giveth not the
Spirit by measure unto him." (John
3:34.)
Another declaration by the Apostle
Paul to the Corinthian saints:
For what man knoweth the things of
man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? even so the things of God knoweth no
man, but the Spirit of God.
But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolish unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
For who hath known the mind of the
Lord, that he may instruct him? But we
have the mind of Christ. (I Cor. 2:11, 14,
16.)
(Continued on page 286)
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
In the
HEART
LIES
SPRING
by Elayne T. Anderson
It was a brisk April day which had
come to the university campus.
Small isolated patches of snow lay
here and there. A persistent wind
made the buttoned coats, the scarves,
and gloves a definite necessity.
In hurrying from one of the build-
ings to another, I observed two stu-
dents in front of me. One of the
fellows was of medium height, with
blond hair and average build. The
other was also of medium height and
had blond hair; there the resem-
blance ended. He was a pitiful pat-
tern of deformity.
From the waist up, he had the
build of an athlete, with broad
shoulders, firm, strong chest, and a
fine well-set head. His right leg was
seemingly normal. The left leg, how-
ever, was twisted out of shape and
caused contortions of his entire body
with every step. The joints, muscles,
and the very bones themselves were
out of line.
As I passed by, the crippled chap
turned to his friend and said, "Yes,
spring is definitely my favorite sea-
son; in fact, I really look forward to
it."
What could spring mean to him?
His deformities were an accepted ex-
cuse for failure had he wanted to
give up.
Give up! Just letting my thoughts
idle on this aspect of human behavior
seemed to bring several facts forcibly
to mind.
How many of the physically per-
fect go through life looking for an
excuse to give up? So often we slow
down with each discouragement,
weaken with each challenge, and die
a little with each heartache.
Frequently the desire to make a
new beginning is killed because the
fires of hope cannot be kindled in the
cold ashes of despair which fill the
APRIL 1957
heart. If we could only realize that
it is the test of our mortal existence
to sink and rise again! The impor-
tant thing is not how many times we
go down, but that we keep getting
up again. We must learn not to re-
sist life's changes but to develop the
strength to live through them.
Earth does not resist the cycle of
seasonal changes which the Creator
has planned. Earth, too, may slow
down with her summer exertions,
weaken, let go her fall harvest, and
even die a little in winter's confine-
ment, all of which may compare with
our human reactions. But does she
give up? Never! With the flash of
the first robin, she labors as one
mighty force in the miracle of spring-
birth.
Giving up is a deep resolve and
not the decision of a moment. It
comes from the very heart and mind
of our being. It is from here the
command to stop or go will come.
Physical deformities may well be a
contributing factor, but never should
they be a deciding factor. Our physi-
cal body does not control us. The
— Religious News Service Photo
master-switch is worked from within.
This is where lie the new hopes, the
new beginning to dispel the clouds
of discouragement.
Thus, it is possible to see why the
crippled one could be so enthusiastic
in his anticipation of spring. He
could view its fresh beauty through
his spiritual eyes rather than his
physical. Though his abilities were
in a measure shackled by his physical
limitations, his alert mind and cou-
rageous spirit were unbound.
There would be no new healing
blood coursing through his veins, no
regeneration of the crooked limbs,
no rebirth of lifeless nerves and mus-
cles— that was true. Instead there
would always be the healing power
of new dreams, the regeneration of
new ambitions and desires, and the
rebirth of new hopes and aspirations.
Why? Because though summer's
sun beats relentlessly; though the
leaves fall from the lifeless trees each
autumn; and winter brings its chill-
ing blasts of sleet and snow, he holds
fast to the never-ending miracle of
the spring which lies in his heart!
229
Ross spent many months in an iron lung. He is shown here with Cali-
fornia's Governor Goodwin J. Knight at the world's largest respiratory center,
located in Hondo, California.
+ FAITH
<$► WORK
* PATIENCE
The Ross Eagar Story
by Eileen Gibbons
MANUSCRIPT EDITOR
It was Monday, October 17, 1952.
A crisply warm Southern Utah
morning beckoned Ross Eagar out-
side and on his way to classes at
Dixie College. He didn't feel much
like going. A sore throat had teased
at him for days, and he was tired in
spite of a week-end of partial rest.
The summer had been a busy, ex-
citing one. Ross had worked hard
as a superintendent of services at
Bryce Canyon, harder than three
previous summers there because the
new responsibility of supervising
230
twenty-five men and boys weighed
heavily on nineteen-year-old shoul-
ders. He had come back home to
Leeds, Utah, tired, but with a heart
and scrapbook full of happy memories.
Now another fall term was under-
way and there were more drum solos,
Dixie College band rehearsals and
performances, numerous student ac-
tivities, frequent jaunts with Mom,
Dad, brothers, and sister when the
Eagar family band was asked to play,
and of course, no time for rest. Be-
sides, Ross Eagar was known for his
enthusiasm and vigor. He drove the
few miles into St. George with antici-
pation.
That is how the day began. At its
end, Ross Eagar lay totally paralyzed,
the victim of three types, or manifesta-
tions, of infantile paralysis, three
hundred miles from home, uncon-
scious and helpless in the life-giving
caresses of an iron lung. He did not
know it, but he had been, was then,
and would be many times again in
the shadow of death from polio and
the almost endless complications to
which his weakened body would give
way.
Miraculously, Ross lives. But the
reason for telling his story does not
lie alone in the fact that one so close
to death for so long can survive. It
has to do with the physical pain and
mental perplexity which a young hu-
man being with courage and faith is
able to endure. It has to do, primar-
ily, with the fact that through suffer-
ing it is possible to build a sense of
values, an overwhelming gratitude,
and a testimony of the kindness and
wisdom of God. Ross's story has to
do not with the return of physical
vigor, because it has not returned, but
with Ross's own words, which he
speaks humbly, with brightness in
his blue eyes: "The Lord has given
me everything but my health."
l>oss drove back home about 11
•*•*- o'clock that Monday morning in
the fall of 1952 with feelings of great
weakness and heavy, aching pains in
the small of his back. He climbed
into bed, sick and tired. When he
tried to get out of bed Wednesday
morning, his legs collapsed, paralyzed:
spinal polio!
Thirty -five miles north of Leeds, as
his parents rushed him to Salt Lake
City, his breathing stopped: bulbar
polio!
The emergency airplane which was
provided at the Cedar City airport
had an oxygen tank, but it was only
partially full. His father adminis-
tered its contents sparingly, but forty
minutes out of Salt Lake City, it was
suddenly empty. As Ross lost con-
sciousness, he heard the pilot radio
for an ambulance and oxygen tank to
meet the plane, and then add, "I
think he's going to die."
Ross was unconscious off and on
for more than three months with
encephalitis, a third manifestation of
polio. He did not know that artificial
respiration by his father kept some
oxygen in his lungs until he reached
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
the airport. Neither does he remem-
ber that at the hospital an incision
was made in his neck and a tube in-
serted into the windpipe to draw off
mucus. He did not know that he
turned black from lack of oxygen,
and that his parents were cautioned
not to hope for his life.
When Ross regained consciousness
for the first time about a week after
entering the hospital, it was a hope-
ful sign to his attendants and watch-
ful parents. To Ross it brought only
a sudden awareness of intense pain.
The muscles throughout his body
stiffened spasmodically, as if polio
were a wrack or wheel tearing; him
limb from limb. Day after day,
whenever conscious, Ross longed for
sleep because it meant relief. Seda-
tives were not used because they can
be particularly dangerous to bulbar
polio patients.
Consciousness brought to Ross not
only an awareness of pain but also a
gradual realization of his complete
dependence on others. In his many
hours and days of lying unable to
move, he pondered this helplessness.
Even his facial muscles were para-
lyzed. If his eyes were open, they
stayed that way until someone closed
them. If they were closed, they stayed
closed. He could not swallow, but
(Continued on following page)
Ross spends many hours prepar-
ing for the Sunday School class
which he teaches.
As important to Ross as any of his equipment is the telephone.
APRIL 1957
Ross and Zelda on their wedding day, November 23, 1956.
231
11
11
i f! ■<
'■EMM
As a student and insurance agent, Ross finds frequent use for the electric typewriter
which he recently learned to operate.
The Ross Eagar Story
(Continued from preceding page)
was fed for more than two months
through his veins and through a
tube in his nose. He could not speak.
He could not breathe, and as the
realization grew in him that life de-
pended on the iron lung into which
he had been placed, fear also grew,
fear of electrical power failure and of
mechanical difficulties. Every morn-
ing doctors opened the iron lung to
see if his diaphragm could do its job,
trying many methods to get it to
work and his arms and legs to move.
Probably his greatest fear was of their
daily visit, and the gasping for air
during those few seconds without
oxygen.
A third awareness, in addition to
pain and helplessness, came with con-
sciousness, and this young elder be-
gan to ask: Why did this happen to
me? In his own words: "I could not
understand. I knew God was there.
I was sure God knew that I knew it,
and that he knew I knew he could
heal me." As this six-foot, 160-pound
expert drummer, hunter, and fisher-
man lay there week after week, his
body now helpless, he asked over and
over again, Why? Why? Other vic-
tims, three of them with wives and
children, shared his room and became
close friends. When each died, his
wonder was intensified, and he be-
gan to ask, Why was I spared?
Somewhere along the way, Ross
reached into his store of faith and
found his own answers, confirmed by
232
that peace which comes only from
God. As when Joseph Smith cried
out, "Oh, God, where art thou?" the
answer came not in enumerated rea-
sons for this suffering, but in words
of kindness and gentle assurance.
Ross does not draw the analogy, but
the writer cannot help doing so.
It took Ross six to eight months to
find peace in his mind and to begin
to build the attitude of calm submis-
siveness to the will of God which still
accompanies his faith in recovery and
his hard work toward greater physi-
cal abilities.
Much of that first year and part
of the second, Ross spent in an iron
lung. A few months after entering
the Salt Lake General Hospital, he
began to spend short periods each day
on the rocking bed which, by its see-
saw motion, increases and decreases
the pressure of bodily organs against
the diaphragm, thus manipulating the
lungs. At first, this separation from
the effortless comfort of the iron lung,
even for a few moments, brought
panic, but fear soon turned to joy at
new feelings of independence.
They were not to last. Ross's
weakened body, lying immoble for so
long, with no moving power of its
own, was easy prey to other ills. Kid-
ney stones developed, the first of
many painful complications which
were to leave Ross again near death
and halt the physical therapy so im-
portant early in polio. Two major and
five minor kidney operations each put
Ross back into the iron lung for a
month and kept him on the critical
list. Severe bladder infection also
developed. There were twenty-eight
blood transfusions. Twice Ross had
pneumonia, dreaded in bulbar polio
patients. A serious ear infection and
removal of several toenails meant
more dependence on the iron lung and
more pain, since complete anesthesia
would have meant danger to his
weakened respiratory system. It
(Continued on page 254)
Always nearby to help, or just visit, are
Eagar, shown here with Ross and Zelda.
Ross's parents, Brother and Sister Walter C.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Neither
Children
Nor Adults
by Dr. Antone K. Romney
PROFESSOR OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINIS-
TRATION, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY,
AND PRESIDENT OF THE BRIGHAM YOUNG
UNIVERSITY STAKE
Young people from the ages of
twelve to twenty years are in a
period of rapid physical develop-
ment. They are neither children nor
adults. One noted sociologist has
referred to adolescence as the period
of "storm and stress" in life, and in
our modern society, this growing up
period seems to become even more
complex.
Although rapid change is also oc-
curring emotionally, intellectually,
and socially, the attitudes and per-
sonalities of our youth are so much
affected by the body changes which
take place during the adolescent years
that recognition by parents of some
of the physical characteristics of teen-
agers is vital. No parents can afford
to ignore them. Their speed and
force are often so powerful that they
become frightening not only to the
adolescent but to the parents as well.
Each teen-ager has his own pattern
of physical growth, with the result
that there are often wide differences
between individuals. A girl may be
physically mature at thirteen while
her close friends are physically im-
mature or she may — suddenly, it
seems — find herself the tallest or
shortest in the group.
There are also differences in rate
of growth between boys and girls of
the same age. Girls in adolescence
usually achieve full stature earlier
than boys. Boys of this age usually
develop two or three years later than
girls and often find themselves more
developed mentally and emotionally
than physically.
These differences between individ-
uals, and between boys and girls,
naturally complicate some of the
APRIL 1957
problems of life. Misunderstood, they
can cause much suffering. But even
more significant during adolescence
than the differences between indi-
viduals is the fact that a young per-
son may be more physically mature
than he is emotionally mature, or he
may be more mature intellectually
than he is socially or spiritually. Each
organ of the body of an individual
may grow and develop at a different
rate. The glands of the body, which
have considerable to do with emo-
tional and mental maturity, may grow
at different rates and thus have vary-
ing effects. The muscular, neural,
digestive, circulatory, and respiratory
systems may also grow at different
rates. Sometimes the bones grow
faster than the muscles develop the
ability to control them, and awkward-
ness results. All of these factors af-
fect the emotional, mental, social, and
spiritual life of the individual.
Our young people react to the per-
plexing changes of adolescence in
various ways. A girl may become
self-conscious as she grows tall or
puts on weight. She may withdraw
or she may want to be seen. She may
be embarrassed or proud. She may
— Monkmeyer Photo Service
put herself on a rigid diet or refuse
to participate in games. She may act
quite unlike herself at certain times.
Similarly, a boy, when his voice be-
gins to drop, may become embar-
rassed. He may refuse to speak in
public. He may be bewildered by
bodily changes. Although his appe-
tite seems never to be fully satisfied,
he will seem to be giving all of his
energy to growing and will some-
times be lazy and indifferent to work.
What are the responsibilities of
parents during these important years?
A fundamental responsibility of par-
ents during this period is to keep their
teen-agers well by seeing that they
get the calories and nutrients their
rapidly developing bodies need, and
that they have adequate relaxation
and rest. Outwardly it appears that
most adolescents have a good deal of
energy and in general are healthy.
Only about four percent are sick
enough to call a doctor three or more
times during any one year, but we
know that lack of proper activity and
food can prevent one from giving at-
tention to other values. Just as im-
proper ventilation dulls alertness, a
(Continued on page 261)
233
To Be a KING •
PART III
by Hugh J. Cannon
A FORMER EDITOR OF THE ERA
SYNOPSIS
David, a descendant of John Hyrcanus,
the founder of the Jewish monarchy, is a
pretender to the throne now held by Herod
Antipas. David and his friends attended a
party at the palace — a party at which the
dancer, Salome, asked for the head of John
the Baptist. As the head was brought in,
David in anger rebuked Herod and left the
palace, taking the girl Ruth with him.
David's favorite residence was not
in Jerusalem. A home in Jericho,
quite as comfortable and beauti-
ful as the more pretentious habitation
in the chief city, had been bequeathed
to him by his departed parents; and
it was to this place he came after the
banquet given by Herod. He was
dubious as to what course Herod
would pursue. So flagrant and pub-
lic had been Herod's insulting man-
ner, that it could not well be
overlooked. Although David's life
had been singularly free from dis-
turbing influences, his natural dis-
position was such that he could not
flee from danger or difficulties, but
had to face them squarely, whatever
the results might be.
In addition to this, the young girl,
Ruth, whom he had met for the first
time, had made a deep impression on
him. As he carried her, fainting, from
the room, he felt that she was more
to be desired than a kingdom. Her
indisposition offered him an excuse
for calling the next day to inquire
about her health.
For Herod's benefit, he let his in-
tention of remaining in Jericho be
known, and after waiting sufficiently
long to give Herod's officers time to
seize him should they desire to do so,
he called his servants and left the
palace. His greatest anxiety was not
what the tetrarch might think or do,
for the timid Herod, he was certain,
would not take any drastic action
against one of great influence — at
least not openly.
In what light Ruth would view his
conduct troubled him vastly more.
Her father, well known to David offi-
cially, had maintained a sphinx-like
silence on the matter of the young
234
man's ambitions, although ample op-
portunity had been given him to
speak. She herself had appeared to
be an acquaintance of Zebulon's,
which made it appear that she, also,
was on Herod's side.
But David, looking back on the
details of the evening, was unable to
see wherein he could have done dif-
ferently, offensive though his con-
duct may have appeared, without
neglecting his obligation to the peo-
ple. For in his honest judgment, it
was his sacred duty to direct their
destinies.
It was with impatience, therefore,
on the day following the banquet,
that he awaited an hour when he
might properly call on the young lady,
who had absorbed so much of his
thought during the night.
His appearance on the streets at-
tracted more than passing attention,
and he soon learned that reports of
his conduct on the previous evening
were already abroad. The rabble, as
well as people of note, apparently
knew the story. However, the young
man was gratified to see that most
of those he met, and all for whose
opinion he cared, were by no means
unfriendly. He was even stopped by
two former supporters of Herod and
congratulated upon his courage.
Much elated, he approached the
house where Ruth lived. It was a
beautiful villa near the foothills, on
the outskirts of the city. The gardens
were among the choicest to be found
anywhere in Jericho, which at the
time was famed for its flowers.
Ruth was in the garden, and as he
approached he was surprised at the
rapid beating of his heart. His ob-
served evidence of confusion on her
part, but her mounting color soon
receded, leaving her face pale.
"I have been anxious," he explained
after formal greetings were over, "lest
the excitement of last evening might
have affected you unfavorably, and
as I contributed more than one man's
share to the tumult, I have come to
inquire about you and apologize for
conduct which may have seemed un-
pardonable."
She surprised him with the direct
question: "Do you think you did the
proper thing?"
"Yes, I do," he answered instantly.
"In my opinion, a ruler who sheds
innocent blood to gratify the whim
of a woman, or for any other cause,
is a murderer, and those who by their
applause or silence condone such an
act are also guilty. Still, had I been
given time to consider the matter, I
might have tempered my words
somewhat."
"Do you think I condoned it by
applause, or even by my silence?"
"The fact that you were fainting in-
dicates that you had no feeling but
one of horror at what occurred."
Ruth gave him a look of gratitude.
"The truth is, I did not clearly hear
Salome's request, and when I did
understand it, I thought it merely an
ill-advised jest. It was very coura-
geous of you to speak so boldly, and
I have already heard of more than
one influential man who commends
your bravery. But was it not rash?
Herod has great power here, and his
father left him a bloody example. Of
course he must view this as a public
insult."
"What would you have me do?
Remain silent out of personal fear
when it was my duty to speak the
truth?"
"No, indeed! I believe one should
always do the thing one believes to
be right regardless of results, and I
would have had you say exactly what
you said; but that does not lessen my
concern for your safety."
The personal danger, great though
it might be, was a small price to pay
for the girl's interest. David would
needlessly have sought danger for
such a reward. It was clear, too, that
whatever her sympathies were before,
they were not now with the tetrarch.
"In what light will Zebulon con-
sider the matter?" David watched
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
her narrowly as he asked the ques-
tion.
Her frank answer relieved him:
"Zebulon, as you must know, is an
intimate associate of Herod's and
naturally would disapprove what you
said, for he himself demanded the exe-
cution of that unfortunate man. And
Zebulon is, I believe — "
The girl hesitated, then continued,
"He is not so conscientious as some
men. But I should not be saying
such things to one who is almost a
stranger to me."
"Please do not view me as a
stranger. For some reason I seem
long to have known you, and beg for
permission to become better ac-
quainted."
"I must go into the house now,"
the girl said simply. "I hope no seri-
ous trouble will come to you because
of this."
David watched her as she walked
up the path, then thoughtfully
mounted his camel.
A t the gate of his own garden,
^*- David met Elihu.
"I have just come from Nico-
demus," the old man reported, "and
he has signified his intention of join-
ing us."
Their attention was attracted by
the derisive cries of children on the
street who were making merry at the
sight of a weather-beaten camel and
rider.
"It is Lebanah, prophet of the
wilderness," said David.
"I know him well," Elihu an-
swered, "and esteem him most highly
for his prophetic gift."
The eremite approached with a
speed which surprised David, who
could hardly believe the ancient camel
capable of such rapid strides. Clear-
ly the old man was bearer of a mes-
sage which demanded haste.
With impatience he accepted the
hospitable attentions showered upon
him, and even before they were con-
cluded he said:
"David, I have important news for
thee. And Elihu, too, will be inter-
ested. Perhaps thou dost not know
that I have two kinsmen working as
servants in Herod's palace. This is
told thee in strictest confidence, for
their lives would be as the grass of
the field if it were suspected that they
reported to me the hideous actions of
their masters. But I know thou art
both discreet.
"This morning a private consulta-
tion was held in the palace by the
tetrarch, pale and hollow-eyed,
Herodias in much the same condi-
tion, and Zebulon. If one could
judge from appearances, two of them
at least had spent a tormented and
sleepless night. They were discussing
mm
— Religious News Photo
Named after the Inn of the Good Samaritan, these ruins of an inn are found on
the road from Jericho to Jerusalem.
APRIL 1957
the events of last evening. Their
careful plan for ultimately enthroning
Herod over Judea had, they feared,
reacted agarut them.
"They said that thy friends, David,
instead of being turned against thee,
were scarcely civil as they left the
palace. But even more disturbing
was the fact that some of those
counted on to support Herod mani-
fested strong disapproval of the im-
pious murder. They were even
outspoken in praising thee for thy
courage in denouncing the crime.
"It seems that among those who
thus declared themselves was Nico-
demus, the man most desired among
all the guests. They feel that be-
cause of his important following, his
experience, and keen judgment, he
must be won. Otherwise, their suc-
cess is doubtful. When bidding the
tetrarch good night, I understand
Nicodemus withdrew a former prom-
ise to assist him.
"In the face of these facts, Herod
thought to abandon his purposes. He
foresaw danger of losing the position
he already holds and suggested to
Herodias and Zebulon that it might
be better to confine their efforts to
the labor of strengthening him there-
in. But they refused to listen.
"Rest not under that assurance.
Coward that he is, these two have
unlimited power over him. In the
end he will do what they say. As
thou mayest well suppose, neither
Herod nor Zebulon will do anything
themselves. Cowardice is one of the
things they have in common. But
Zebulon mentioned a man who is in
his power and will do his bidding.
This man will doubtless be the one
through whom they strike."
"Lebanah, I cannot believe per-
sonal danger awaits me or my friends,
but still your story is disturbing.
What can I do to protect those whose
peril is due solely to their support of
me? Shall I abandon my hopes of
ruling over this people?"
"Never!" The old man spoke em-
phatically, and Elihu joined him. "If
thou choosest wisely thou art to be
a great king. That was the voice of
the spirit when thou wast a mere
babe. Proceed with thy plans. No
immediate danger confronts thee, and
I shall keep thee informed."
"This is important, David," Elihu
added, "and I can believe all that
Lebanah says. It confirms a fear
which I have today discussed with a
number of your friends. We have to
(Continued on page 282)
235
MIA READING COURSE: JESUS THE CHRIST-X
Fishers
of Men
by Doyle L. Green
MANAGING EDITOR
The sequence of some of the hap-
penings in the ministry of the
Savior is difficult to determine
with accuracy. None of the four
writers of the Gospels made a com-
plete record of events, so the story
has to be pieced together from the
four accounts. But whether Jesus
went first to Cana upon his return
to Galilee, as recorded by John, or to
Nazareth, as related by Luke, is prob-
ably of little significance. However,
for the purpose of these articles, the
sequence of events presented in Presi-
dent J. Reuben Clark, Jr.'s "Our Lord
of the Gospels" is being followed.
President Clark has made an intensive
and devoted study of the life of Christ
over a period of many years. His
"harmony" of the gospels is a scholar-
ly work motivated by a deep and sin-
cere love for the Savior of the world.
The fame of the man of Nazareth
went before him into Galilee. Even
though the miracle of turning water
into wine, which he had performed
at the marriage feast in Cana some
months earlier, might have been dis-
credited and perhaps even scoffed at
by those to whom the story was re-
lated, still the works of the Savior
during the Feast of the Passover,
which had recently been held in
Jerusalem, could not be ignored.
It is doubtful that there was a
house in all the land in which the
thrilling story of the cleansing of the
temple had not been repeated. Along
with this were undoubtedly told ac-
counts of the miracles which Jesus
Drawing by Major Benton Fletcher, from Lionel
Cust's Jerusalem: a Historical Sketch, published by
A. & C. Black, Ltd., London.
Scriptural references in this article are from Matthew
4, 8; Mark 1; Luke 4, 5; John 2, 4.
By the Sea of Galilee, Jesus
called Simon Peter, and An-
drew, his brother; and James,
and John, the sons of Zebe-
dee, saying, "Follow me, and
I will make you fishers of
men."
— Painting by Ernst Zimmerman
236
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
;.::.J ■::.:.■; :-y'-.y-iX-Z-y.->i>^ ?.'■'■;'':'■■.'■: "."'■' ■:
::isffi;.
:;>;!::. ::-'^.;:^l^i::!:!:!:
-Painting by Hcinrich Hofmann
Christ Preaching by the Sea of Galilee.
had performed in the Holy City.
Many of the Galileans had been
present and actually witnessed some
of these remarkable events.
Every town of any size in Pales-
tine had a synagogue, where the
Jews gathered to worship and to be
taught. Jesus, now a recognized
teacher, attended the services each
Sabbath day, read from the sacred
scripture, and explained the gospel.
One of the cities he visited was
Cana, situated about five miles north-
ward from Nazareth. Not only was
Cana the site of the wedding feast
where Jesus had turned the water
into wine, but also it was the home
of one of the early disciples, Nathan-
ael, whom Jesus called ". . . an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile."
Some twentv-five miles toward the
northeast on the shores of the Sea of
Galilee in the city of Capernaum
lived a nobleman who may have
been one of the officers in the gov-
ernment of Herod Antipas. This
man's son was seriously ill and very
close to death. Learning that Jesus
had returned to Galilee, the noble-
man hurried to Cana, located Jesus
at about one o'clock in the afternoon,
or the "seventh hour," as the Jews
determined their, time, and begged
him to go with haste to Capernaum
and heal his son.
Jesus said to the anxious father,
"Except ye see signs and wonders,
ye will not believe." Some writers
have thought that Jesus was reprov-
ing the man for his lack of faith, but
it is more likely that he was testing
him to see how strong his faith really
was. In any event the nobleman
APRIL 1957
persisted: "Sir, come down ere my
child die."
Evidently the Savior was im-
pressed with the sincerity of the man,
his great concern for his son, and
his belief that the Savior had the
power to heal him.
One can picture the compassion
and love in the Savior's voice as he
said simply, "Go thy way; thy son
liveth." This must have greatly sur-
prised the man, as he expected that
the Lord would have to make the
trip to Capernaum to save his boy.
What a wonderful lesson the experi-
ence was to the nobleman and to
all who have since heard or read
the story! It showed that the Lord
has power over time and space. He
does not have to be on the spot to
exercise authority. He spoke, and
twenty-five miles away a sick boy
was healed!
Imagine the joy in the heart of
this father, who believed the words
that the Lord had spoken. Without
a question, he made his way back
down the rocky trail toward the Sea
of Galilee, his home, and a reunion
with his son.
On the trail the following day, he
met some of his servants coming to
tell him that his son was better. He
was not surprised but inquired as to
when the crisis had passed. His serv-
ants told him that it was the seventh
hour of the preceding day, the very
time that Jesus had told him that
his son would live. Here is indispu-
table evidence that Jesus had divine
power, and all the nobleman's house-
hold believed with him.
The return to Nazareth must have
been a trial for Jesus. He knew he
would not be well accepted, but this
did not prevent his going. On the
Sabbath he went to the little syna-
gogue where he had attended church
services throughout most of the first
thirty years of his life. Undoubtedly
some of his own relatives were in the
congregation.
The Lord could read the questions
in the minds of his townspeople. Was
not this the son of Joseph, the carpen-
ter? Had he not worked in a shop
with his father? Had he not played
with the children on the hills around
Nazareth? Did he really think that
they would believe he was the Son
of God? What would he read from
the scriptures? What would he say
about himself? Would he try to
convince them with miracles?
All eyes were upon him as he stood
and unrolled the scroll of the Prophet
Isaiah which the "minister" handed
to him. He chose as his text the
first verse and a half from what we
know as the sixty-first chapter. The
words of the text as recorded by Luke
are a little different than the Old
Testament version, but the meaning
is the same:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; he
hath sent me to heal the broken-
hearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised,
"To preach the acceptable year of
the Lord. . . ."
Returning the scroll to the "min-
ister," Jesus sat down, as was the
custom of the teachers of the time,
and explained: "This day is the
scripture fulfilled in your ears."
But this did not satisfy the people.
It is one thing to say that you have
been called to do a special work and
perform remarkable things, but an-
other thing to prove it. "Physician,
heal thyself," they demanded. "What-
soever we have heard done in Caper-
naum, do also here in thy country."
The Savior knew, however, that
his power was not to be used merely
to satisfy the curiosity of the skeptic
and the unbeliever. Miracles must
follow faith, not precede it. Mary
did not say, "Let's see if you have
the power to turn water into wine."
There was no question in her mind
(Continued on following page)
237
Fishers of Men
(Continued from preceding page)
but that Jesus could do it. The
nobleman did not say, "Heal my son,
and I will believe." The Savior was
convinced in advance of his faith.
Among his own people there was
no one with faith enough to believe,
and because they were his own people
they demanded special signs. "No
prophet is accepted in his own
country," Jesus told them. He then
cited examples from the history of
the Jews which they knew so well,
to show how the righteous men had
received blessings, and how the un-
righteous had been denied them.
Either the failure of Jesus to re-
spond to their wishes or his implica-
tion that they were not righteous
enough to warrant a show of divine
strength, or possibly both, filled the
people with anger. Rising up they
". . . thrust him out of the city, and
led him unto the brow of the hill
whereupon their city was built, that
they might cast him down headlong."
But Jesus, who had the power to
control a whole multitude with a
word or a glance, escaped, and ". . .
passing through the midst of them
went his way," never, so far as we
know, to come again to Nazareth.
Returning to the shores of the Sea
of Galilee, or the Lake of Gen-
nesaret, as this famous body of water
was also known, Jesus found four of
his early disciples, Simon Peter, and
Andrew, his brother; and James, and
John, the sons of Zebedee. The time
was early morning, and these four
fishermen, who had been out on the
lake all night, were washing and
mending their nets. So great were
the crowds following Jesus that he
stepped into Peter's boat and asked
him to cast it out some distance from
shore. Peter responded, and Jesus
sat down and talked to the multitude.
When he had finished speaking, he
told Peter to launch out into the
deep water and let down the nets to
catch some fish. This seemed use-
less to the big, experienced fisher-
man. He knew this was not the
hour of the day to catch fish. He
reminded the Savior that they had
worked hard all night and had
caught nothing, ". . . nevertheless,"
he said, showing his complete obedi-
ence to the wishes of the Lord, "at
thy word I will let down the net."
He did, and greatly to the surprise
of Peter and Andrew the net enclosed
238
so many fish that it started to break.
James and John were summoned to
help. Hurriedly the second boat was
put out into the water, and so many
fish were caught that both vessels
were in danger of sinking.
Recognizing this remarkable hap-
pening as an indication of the great
power Jesus possessed, Peter ". . . fell
down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart
from me; for I am a sinful man, O
Lord." This was undoubtedly Peter's
way of expressing his belief in the
Savior and his realization of how little
earthly pursuits meant compared
with the work of the Lord.
"Follow me," Jesus said to him and
the others, "and I will make you
fishers of men." The four fishermen
of Galilee brought their ships to land,
and seemingly without even taking
care of the great catch of fish, they
left all they had to do the will of the
Savior. From that time forward they
devoted their full time to promoting
the work of the Lord..
On the Sabbath day Jesus taught
in the synagogue at Capernaum. The
people, not used to the straightfor-
ward, clear manner in which Jesus
taught the gospel, ". . . were aston-
ished at his doctrine:
"For he taught them as one having
authority, and not as the scribes."
Another lesson was taught that day
in the synagogue at Capernaum. This
lesson was that the Savior of the
world has complete power over the
forces of evil. At one of the serv-
I ' MiWlfiMlM
— Photo by Wilde
The Calling of the Fishermen.
ices was a man possessed of an evil
spirit — one of the followers of Satan
who refused the plan of our Heavenly
Father and was cast down to earth
to live forever without an earthly
body. So dire was the punishment
which these spirits brought upon
themselves, and so anxious are they
to have bodies, that they will go to
almost any length to enter into the
bodies of human beings. Seeing
through the eyes of the body he
possessed, the evil spirit recognized
the Son of God. Rebuking him,
Jesus ordered the evil spirit to leave
the body of the man, which it
promptly did.
Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went
with his four disciples to the home of
Simon Peter, whose mother-in-law
lay ill with a fever. Taking her by
the hand, Jesus lifted her up from
the bed, and she recovered so quickly
and so completely that she arose and
". . . ministered unto them . . . ,"
probably preparing and serving their
evening meal.
The Jewish Sabbath ends with the
setting of the sun. All of the numer-
ous restrictions observed so carefully
by these people on the holy day were
lifted in the evening when the new
day began, and crowds of people,
indeed the entire population of the
city, excited by the events of the Sab-
bath, flocked around Peter's house to
see and be blessed by the Lord. Hav-
ing compassion on this faithful and
believing people, Jesus laid his hands
on them, healing the sick and casting
out evil spirits. No one with an ail-
ment was denied his blessing. What
a contrast to the reception he had
received in his home town of
Nazareth!
At daylight next morning, Jesus
went "into a desert place" to be alone,
to meditate and to pray. But the
people of Capernaum followed him
and tried to influence him to stay
with them in their city.
"I must preach the kingdom of
God to other cities also," he told
them, "for therefore am I sent." So
he left Capernaum and went through-
out Galilee preaching the gospel,
healing the sick, curing disease, and
casting out evil spirits. Everywhere
he went he was followed by great
multitudes of people, not only from
Galilee, but also from all of the sur-
rounding land.
(To he continued)
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
The MESSAGE of the
BOOK of JOB
by Hoyt Palmer;
Perhaps in no place in the scrip-
tures is there given more clearly
and powerfully the great message
of the power of God and the majesty
and perfection of his creations than
in the book of Job.
In this Old Testament book the
great truth is taught that all things
are under the direct hand of the Cre-
ator: that he can and does direct the
causes and effects of all things for
the good of all who trust him — for the
ultimate good of all his children.
Job was an actual, living man, who
dwelt on earth at some time not speci-
fied in the book itself. This is true,
notwithstanding the professions of so-
called Bible scholars and critics that
the book of Job is merely a beauti-
fully written allegory or parable. We
have the direct word of the Lord him-
self in modern revelation that Job
and the circumstances recorded in the
book bearing his name were actuali-
ties.
The Prophet Ezekiel helps to add to
the authenticity of Job when he says:
The word of the Lord came again to me,
saying:
Son of man, when the land sinneth against
me by trespassing grievously, then will I
stretch out mine hand upon it, and will
break the staff of the bread thereof, and
will send famine upon it, and will cut off
man and beast from it:
Though these three men, Noah, Daniel,
and Job, were in it, they should deliver but
their own souls by their righteousness, saith
the Lord God.
If I cause noisome beasts to pass through
the land, and they spoil it, so that it be
desolate, that no man may pass through
because of the beasts:
Though these three men were in it, as
I live, saith the Lord God, they shall de-
liver neither sons nor daughters; they only
shall be delivered, but the land shall be
desolate.
Or if I bring a sword upon that land,
and say, Sword, go through the land; so
that I cut off man and beast from it:
Though these three men were in it, as I
live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver
neither sons nor daughters, but they only
shall be delivered themselves.
Or if I send a pestilence into that land,
and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to
cut off from it man and beast:
Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were
in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they
shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they
shall but deliver their own souls by their
righteousness. (Ezekiel 14:12-20.)
In one of his modern-day revela-
tions the Lord not only repeats the
great truth contained in the book of
Job, but refers specifically to Job him-
self.
The Prophet Joseph Smith, praying
from the depths of a tortured soul for
relief, cries out to God, who seems
almost to have forgotten his people,
and the Lord answers his anguished
pleading with a sublime and com-
forting assurance that all is well.
My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine
adversity and thine afflictions shall be but
a moment;
And then, if thou endure it well, God
shall exalt thee on high; thou -shalt triumph
over all thy foes.
Thy friends do stand by thee, and they
shall hail thee again with warm and friend-
ly hands.
Thou are not yet as Job: Thy friends do
not contend against thee, neither charge
thee with transgression, as they did Job.
The writer of the book of Job is not
known. It could have been Job
himself, but there seems greater evi-
dence that it was a young man by
the name of Elihu, one of four friends
who came to Job in his great affliction
to try to comfort him.
Elihu, who enters the picture late
in the story, is the only one of the five
principal mortal characters in the
book who, in speaking, uses the first
person in a manner used by an au-
thor, rather than a quote of someone
else's speech. He uses the phrase "I
said" in this way on three different oc-
casions.
The book opens with the words,
There was a man in the land of Uz,
whose name was Job; and that man was
perfect and upright, and one that feared
God and eschewed evil. (Job 1:1.)
Then follows an account of two
conversations between God and
Satan, with Satan belittling Job as no
better than anyone else, and who re-
mains faithful only because God has
favored and blessed him above others.
The Lord, knowing the depth of
integrity of the man, gives Satan
power to take away all Job's temporal
possessions; his flocks and herds, his
home, his servants, and finally his
children, seven lovely sons and
daughters. Job meets this test with
an unshaken faith, declaring,
Naked came I out of my mother's womb
and naked shall I return thither: the Lord
gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed
be the name of the Lord. (Ibid., 1:21.)
Satan, having failed to shake the
faith of Job by these catastrophies,
again belittles him to the Lord and
is given permission to torture him
physically, but he must not take his
life.
So went Satan forth from the presence
of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils
from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
(Ibid., 2:7.)
Again Job meets the test with his
faith unshaken, exclaiming,
. . . What? shall we receive good at the
hand of God, and shall not receive evil?
(Ibid., 2:10.)
The major portion of the book is
comprised of a series of conversations
between Job and three friends who
come as would-be comforters during
his great afflictions. Their disserta-
tions are based on the premise that
Job has sinned in some way and his
afflictions are punishments for his
transgressions. This accusation he
resents and will not accept. He main-
tains, at times bitterly and with some
heat and impatience, that he has not
sinned. His extreme suffering causes
some confusion in his thinking, and
this he admits, and pleads with the
Lord to remove his affliction.
(Continued on page 263)
APRIL 1957
239
sr
My Pal J oe y
by Harold Heifer
Joey said he didn't want me to say
anything about it, what really
happened, but I can't let every-
body go on thinking what they do,
so I have decided to tell everything.
After all, he is my best friend and,
well, I just can't let Joey go through
life and have people think what they
do about him. Maybe Joey wasn't
such a hot speller, but still he never
was the other thing they thought.
To tell the truth about it, Joey was
a pretty awful speller. He was good
about a lot of things, playing third
base, collecting frogs, walking across
Mrs. Foster's fence, and so forth, but
he just didn't seem to have much of
a knack for spelling, only he prob-
ably would have spelled it nack or
even nak. One time he spelled
pneumonia newmoanyeah and Eski-
mo askamoe.
Still, he was my friend and I al-
ways stuck by him. And I must say
he did improve after Jenny Winters
came to the classroom.
It didn't come natural, you under-
stand. His brow would get all fur-
rowed up and something like a pain
would come into his eyes. Sometimes
when he went into one of these
trances, I'd get the curious feeling
that some of the atoms in Joey's scalp,
under all that pressure and concentra-
tion, would suddenly go up in little
mushroom puffs. But the interesting
thing was that he was beginning to
spell more and more of the words
right.
Of course, what he did was study
real hard at home. I'd come by his
house sometimes, and he'd be sitting
in the crotch of the elm tree in his
front yard, nibbling away on a pear
or a banana or an apple, which he
once spelled appull, and frowning
away at a spelling book.
I really don't know what Joey saw
in this Jenny Winters. She was just
a girl. Her freckles weren't even on
straight. They were every which
way.
Still, I guess that's the way things
go. Joey combed his hair practically
every day, and he generally wore
clean shirts, and even if he had only
three or four patches in his trousers,
he'd want to wear another pair.
But the most amazing thing of all,
of course, was the way he began to
240
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
spell pretty good. It reminded me
sometimes of a bear I saw at a carni-
val on roller skates. You could hardly
believe it, and you were sure he'd
fall smackdab on what bears fall down
on any second, but still, there Joey
was getting away with it anyway. He
seemed to be dying a thousand deaths,
but somehow he did manage to spell
quite a few words right, and those he
missed he didn't miss by the big
country mile and then some, that he
used to miss 'em by.
Of course, the whole thing was that
this Jenny Winters was quite a spell-
ing whiz. In fact, at the spelling bee
we had every Friday she nearly al-
ways won and usually without too
much p-e-r-s-p-i-r-a-t-i-o-n.
I suppose this was sort of unusual,
someone being so good all the time
with spelling. She didn't wear
glasses either or have braces on her
teeth, like most girls who are pretty
smart. In fact, she swung a bat
pretty good, considering she was a
girl, and she had pretty good lizard
collection, so maybe it was sort of
understandable, Joey feeling a little
fuzzy-wuzzy about her. Anyhow, you
had to say it could be worse.
It was clear, of course, that Joey
was just trying to impress Jenny by
showing her what a good speller he
was. I'll never forget the day he
spelled a-n-t-h-r-a-c-i-t-e, just like
that, practically without a bobble.
Miss Lashley, our teacher, just stared
at him as if her mouth had become
unhinged and she'd never be quite
all right again. Somehow it was kind
of touching.
Quite a few of us just couldn't get
over it, but Joey even reached the
point where he'd stay up in the Fri-
day spelling bees right up to the last
four or five remaining ones. And
when the announcement was made
about the big city-wide spelling bee
coming up, Joey studied his spelling
books more than ever. I'd not only
see him with them in the crotch of
the elm tree, but I once even saw him
hanging from the rail of his veranda
by his feet, like a bat, with a spelling
book open beneath him for him to
look at — right while he was dangling.
Still, nobody figured he had a
chance to get anywhere in this spell-
ing bee. The best spellers in all the
schools of the city entered it, and
everybody always did his very best
because there were big prizes for the
winner, such as a free season's movie
pass and going to camp and all that,
and you got your picture in the paper,
too, with a great big smile on your
face.
Joey still spelled as if he were being
tortured to bring the right letters of
the alphabet out of him, and his face
would get awfully red and sometimes
it looked like he was getting apoplexy,
which he once spelled applelaxy, but
somehow he managed to blurt out the
right letters.
It was really kind of fascinating;
I don't know why but it made me
think of a bull suddenly taking
charge of things at a bull ring and
waving a red flag at the toreador,
and toying with him instead of vice
versa. Anyway, the bull sure seemed
to be a surprise dark horse, if you
know what I mean. He seemed to
lose some teeth every time he did it,
but he kept getting the right letters
of the alphabet out somehow or other.
Anyway, speller after speller went
down from one school after another
but Joey kept hanging on. You
could tell it just meant everything to
him, his heart and soul and the rest
of his anatomy, which I hate to tell
you how he once spelled, was in it.
And, believe it or not and strange as
H f^-om
it seems and lo and behold, there he
was up there right up to the last,
in the finals!
Being as the other one left was
Jenny Winters, our school couldn't
lose, but somehow it was very dra-
matic anyway. I guess I'll never for-
get it. Joey standing up there on the
platform so stiff and straight and
red-faced and Jenny so relaxed with
a little smile almost half-hidden
among all those freckles of hers. And
then the moderator called out the
word "conscientious." Joey gulped so
many times that it looked like he was
going to have an applelaxy as well as
an apoplexy, but he finally got it out,
c-o-n-s-c-i-e-n-t-i-o-u-s. And since
Jenny had already spelled it c-o-n-
s-c-i-e-n-t-o-u-s and Joey's way
turned out to be right, he was the
city- wide spelling champ!
As soon as the judge announced he
was the winner, tears burst into his
eyes and, of all the luck, the news-
paper photographers happened to
catch him just then, and his picture
came out that way in all the papers
with stories telling about the tears
of joy in the new spelling champion's
eyes at his happiness of winning.
This may sound all right when you
read it, even sort of poetic like maybe,
but in the set that Joey and I belong
to only losers, if anybody, are sup-
posed to cry, not winners. Why,
you'd have to be practically a sissy
to cry when you won something. To
tell the truth, I found myself look-
ing somewhat doubtfully at my old
buddy.
The odd thing was, though, that
Joey seemed to look kind of miserable
even two or three days after. And
that was really carrying things too
far. In fact, I told Joey so.
"You dumb cluck!" he cried. "I
didn't want to win. I tried to lose.
I wanted her to win. I thought I was
spelling that word wrong."
I just stared at Joey for a moment
and then I said, "Real quick, Joey,
spell cluck."
"K-l-u-k," he said.
I realized there and then it was the
same old Joey. My heart went out
to him. I don't know how I could
have ever doubted him.
APRIL 1957
241
"Nephites" found in New Mexico
From a letter by Wilford Woodruff to President John Taylor and Council
— An Improvement Era photograph
Two Zuni women, both members of the Church, Sisters
Vivian Peywa and Crystal Sheka, dressed in their ceremonial
costumes.
Sunset, Apache Co., Arizona,*
Sept. 15th, 1879.
President John Taylor and Council:
Dear Brethren: — I arrived on Saturday night, the
13th, all well and in good spirits and found Brother
Lake, of Brigham City,* and Brother Bates, of
Pleasant Valley,* very sick. They had been to the
Verde, baptizing some and administering to the sick.
Brother Lake has been looked upon as dangerous, but
was some better yesterday.
In my short communication of the 2nd inst, I prom-
ised to give a fuller account of my visit to the Isletas,
which I will now endeavor to do. I view my visit among
the Nephites one of the most interesting missions of my
life, although short. I say Nephites because if there
are any Nephites on this continent we have found
them among the Zunis, Lagumas [Lagunas], and
Isletas, for they are a different race of people altogether
from the Lamanites. I class the Navajos, Moquis
[Hopis] and Apaches with the Lamanites, although
*Sunset was a settlement about four miles northeast of the present town of
Winslow, Navajo County, Arizona; Brigham City was a settlement about three
miles north of Winslow; Pleasant Valley was a part of northern Arizona, also.
The letter is from the book, Wilford Woodruff, by Matthias F. Cowley.
242
they are in advance of many Indian tribes of America.
I class the Zunis, Lagumas [Lagunas], and Isletas among
the Nephites. (See D. & C. 3:17.) The Zunis are in ad-
vance of the Navajos, Apaches, or of any other Laman-
ites. The Lagumas are much above the Zunis, and
the Isletas are far above them all in wealth, in beauty,
cleanliness, and order of their homes and persons,
the adornment of their dwellings, their industry and
indefatigable labors, and in their virtue, and in the
purity of their national blood. Their bearing and
dignity in their intercourse with strangers, and above
all else, the expansion of their minds and their capacity
to receive any principle of the gospel, such as endow-
ments or sealing powers, fully equal the minds of any of
the Anglo-Saxon race. While I have been standing in
the midst of that noble-minded people, teaching them
the gospel, I could not make myself believe I was
standing in the presence of American Indians or Laman-
ites; neither was I.
The Isletas of which I speak is a village twelve miles
below Albuquerque, on the Rio Del Norte, containing
3,000 souls that stand at the head of this class of men
that I call the Nephites. They occupy forty villages,
containing a population of 32,000, speaking sixteen
distinct languages, but nearly all good Spanish scholars.
I look upon this as a great field of missionary labor for
some forty good, faithful Mormon elders, who should
be able to speak the Spanish; and I. hope next confer-
ence will call some of them, at least, into the field. I
visited this people, located in their homes in company
with Brother Amnion M. Tenney, who had visited
most of them before, and I think has done much good
in opening doors among them. He had baptized 115
of the Zunis on a former mission. My journey and visit
with him was a visit of observation, and I was amply
rewarded. In what way, I do not know, but in almost
every village I visited, they were looking for me. I can
only make a brief outline from my journal of our
journey. On the 19th of August, we entered the Zuni
village, containing about 3,000 souls. The village stood
on a piece of elevated ground; many buildings were
three stories high; and the upper stories were entered by
ladders at the top. * * *
I went all through the village and, for the first time in
my life, I had a view of the white Indians called albinos.
Their hair, face, and limbs were nearly as white as
milk, much whiter than any Americans. I met with
many who had been baptized, and they were very glad
to see me. They had 2,000 acres of corn, looking well
without irrigation. On the day following, we visited
their village at their farm called Fish Springs. I was
here introduced to Brother Juan Bautista (John Baptist),
the first man baptized in the Zuni nation by A. M. Ten-
ney. His son's wife was the most handsome woman I
ever saw of the Indian race; had a beautiful child, nearly
white. I went through their wheat fields, which they
were cutting with sickles. We visited several ruins of
the ancient inhabitants; some of the outside walls of
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
stone were standing some eight feet
high. On Sunday evening, the 25th,
we held a meeting in a village of the
Lagumas, called Mosita Negra. We
had an interesting talk with the Gov-
ernor of the place (Jose Carido), and
the spiritual adviser (Lorenzo Coreo)
and both wanted a meeting. They
called the people together, men,
women, and children. We opened by
singing and prayer, and Brother
Tenney spoke to them in Spanish
thirty minutes. I spoke a short time.
Brother Tenney interpreted and we
dismissed, thinking we had kept them
long enough. As soon as we dis-
missed, a Nephite arose, full of the
Spirit of the Lord, and said: "Friends,
why do you dismiss us and leave us
in this way? This is the first time
we have heard of our forefathers and
the gospel, and the things we have
looked for from the traditions of our
fathers. If our wives and children
are weary, let them go home; we want
to hear more. We want you to talk
all night, do not leave us so." This
speech raised me to my feet, and the
next hour was one of the best meet-
ings we had. We all felt inspired:
missionaries, Nephite men, women,
and children. I spoke, and Brother
Tenney interpreted. I never felt
the want of tongues more than on
this occasion. I taught the things of
the kingdom of God and found hearts
capable of receiving it. All were
deeply interested, and the seeds we
had sown in the hearts of that people
will bring forth fruit. At the close of
the meeting, the man who spoke in
the meeting came to me and said,
"When you return, drive to my home,
and all your wants will be supplied,"
which we did and held another meet-
ing on the Sundav following. We
should have baptized him, the Gover-
nor, and many others, I think, but the
Governor who had followed us, as did
the spiritual adviser, some sixty miles
to Isletas, had not returned. The peo-
ple did not wish to take any steps
until their Governor was with them.
On the following morning, my car-
riage was surrounded by the Governor
and people that we had talked to the
night before. Some of them took
breakfast with us and I had to talk
to them on the principles of the gos-
pel and their record and signs of the
times, until I left; and the leading
men of the village followed us sixty
miles to Isletas and stopped with us
most of the time we were there.
On the morning of the 26th of
August, we drove through Frisco,
crossed the Rio Del Norte, which we
found very low, and entered Albu-
querque, containing about 3,000 in-
habitants, Jews, Gentiles, Americans,
and Mexicans. I was introduced to
Judge Parks, the U S District judge
of that district, from Illinois. I went
through the city or town. It is quite
a place of business. I went through
the Catholic cathedral accompanied
by an Italian padre, or priest. He
took great pains to show us every-
thing in it, robes of the priests and
deacons, some robes woven from pure
gold thread that cost $1,000.00. There
was much more wealth than I would
have looked for in as obscure a place
as Albuquerque. We spent the day
in the place and left in the evening
and camped five miles below on the
banks of the river.
On the 27th of August, we entered
the village of Isletas (Ysleta), being
the day before the great annual feast
of this people. Brother Ammon M.
Tenney had visited this people three
years ago and had made friends in
the place. We called upon an old
patriarch that had received him be-
fore. His name was Juan Reylocero
(John King). He was glad to receive
us. He furnished us with mutton,
fruit, and anything we needed. He
was one of the leading spirits, was
one of the most influential men in
the village, and was over eighty years
of age; but by his labor and activity
he did not appear more than seventy.
* * * The inhabitants of Isletas
stand at the head of these 32,000
Nephites; all the other 40 villages
come to them for counsel. They have
their own laws, police courts, and
judgment seat. They are very rich.
The man we stopped with possessed
9,000 sheep, 100 brood mares and
horses, 100 mules and asses, 500 cows
and oxen, a ranch worth $8,000.00
and $25,000.00 of other wealth. He
rents many houses in the city, and
he is a sample of many of the Isletas
nation. They allow no white man
or Mexican to mix with them in their
blood; all their marriages are in their
own tribe. Our friend (Reylocero)
said the Americans had called them
wild men. If they were wild, they
were honest and virtuous. It was
very seldom that a case of seduction
of a wife or daughter was known in
their tribes. Whenever such a case
did occur, the penalty of death was
executed and had been for centuries.
* * * In fact they were so much
afraid of white men coming in con-
tact with their women, that Brothers
Tenney and Robert H. Smith, of the
15th Ward, Salt Lake City, three
years ago, came nearly starving to
death before they got thoroughly ac-
quainted with them. They were not
willing for these brethren to go into
the presence of their women; but after
the old patriarch had reached full
(Continued on page 267)
APRIL 1957
243
Iiz Bennett woke to the inces-
sant whir of the Silver Clipper as
it skimmed along the lake's edge
not ten yards from the cabin. Be-
fore she could shoot her lithe body
into position at the small window,
the sleek craft was already heading
back toward the far side.
Butterflies danced up her spine as
she watched the back of Brad Kim-
berly's bronze head glimmer in the
pale sunshine of early morning. They
were bigger, more exciting butter-
flies than usual, for it was now, today,
that the entire girls' camp was hav-
ing its annual picnic at Kimberly
Acres, the rolling estate directly across
Lake St. Helena. The boys' camp at
the far end of the lake had been in-
vited, too. This would be the most
wonderful day of her life!
Then her heart plunged. She
wasn't going! She had made the
final decision last night! Stay away,
far away, and no one would ever
know what a dud she was around
boys!
"Have you made up your mind to
go?" Syl Walsh, her girl friend, slid
alongside her.
"Oh, I didn't know you were
awake," she turned quickly so Syl
wouldn't suspect she'd been watching
Brad so intently.
"Are you going?" Syl prodded in-
sistently.
"I— I " she started.
"Oh, Liz, don't start that all over.
All last term at high you were too
involved with other interests to join
the fun at school. I thought coming
here had changed you, you seemed
so different until this picnic thing
came up."
She b^ her lip; quick tears blurred
her eyes. "You don't understand,"
she said aloud, and thought miser-
ably: "You're not a foot taller than
every boy you meet; even if you were
a wallflower no one would see you
sticking out like a sore thumb!"
"Liz, in another week camp will
be over, and you'll have missed the
best part," Syl pleaded.
"Yes, it will be over," she thought,
"I could go today, for they'll never
see me again — no one but Syl, and
she'll be too surrounded with boys
to remember I'm alive!" She said
slowly, "Guess you're right."
Later as she dressed her mother's
words rang through her mind, "Eliza-
beth, you'll never have any trouble
with boys if you'll forget your height
and remember that boys are human
244
Liz and the Picnic
by Verne Owen
beings and they react to any situa-
tion very much like a girl. Remember,
too, that boys are not out to make
fun of a girl but to like her if she'll
let them."
"That's not true!" Her own rebel-
lious words echoed back at her. "Why
did Bill Russell back out of my invi-
tation to the sophomore banquet last
spring? His so-called sprained ankle
healed in time for bowling the next
evening! And that's human? No
sir, I'll never let myself in for that
agan
The present spiraled back as Syl
bounded into the cabin with, "Come
on! You're holding up the parade."
She followed Syl into the summer
morning, the soft breeze predicting
another perfect day. The wedge of
silver beach spread smooth and pli-
able before them. Chattering girls
were piling into four motorboats lin-
ing the pier, and she climbed after
Syl into the last one. It swung away
from shore, made a wide half circle,
and headed for the opposite side.
When it jogged to a stop along side
the dock, she was immediately thrown
into the middle of a noisy crowd of
boys and girls plowing toward the
lawns before the fieldstone villa that
housed the Kimberly family.
Syl was flanked by two tall boys.
She hoped one would turn her way.
But the dark one just stared after Syl
as she drifted away with the red-
haired one.
Liz was trying desperately to look
gay, to act as if she were having a
fine time, when a tall, rather stoop-
shouldered boy came face to face
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
with her. She swallowed and smiled
at him. He seemed to writhe in an
agony of embarrassment before turn-
ing and vanishing into the crowd.
Then the crowd began to disperse
into smaller groups, and for a horri-
ble moment she was alone, turning
uncertainly toward a wrought-iron
bench against a low, broad hedge.
From behind a feminine voice said,
"I'm so glad everyone came. You're
Elizabeth Bennett, aren't you? Miss
Collins, your counselor, has told me
that you were a runner-up in the
state amateur archery meet this
spring. She also said you are a golfer.
There's a short nine back of the
house, and if you wish, help yourself
to the clubs in the garden house and
play the course." Mrs. Kimberly
smiled down at her.
"Thank you," she answered, "and
I hear you have a fine library."
Mrs. Kimberly looked flattered,
"Yes, we think it is rather extensive.
If you'd like to see it, you're quite
welcome. It's at the end of the front
hall. I see it's time for a pow-wow
APRIL 1957
with your counselors but," she pivoted
slightly and caught a passing boy by
the arm, "here's my nephew, Jimmy
Kimberly. He'll see you're enter-
tained. Jimmy this is Elizabeth Ben-
nett."
He didn't seem enthusiastic as he
acknowledged the introduction but
gave her a look which spelled ap-
praisal and sat down beside her with,
"Sure, Aunt Fran, I'll show her
around."
He looked the way she pictured
Brad would look if she ever got close
enough to see him well. "Is Brad
Kimberly here?" she said shakily and
wished the words back immediately.
"Brad!" his voice had a sharp edge.
"All you girls are the same! No one
is good enough for you but Brad!
He'll be out in a few minutes, you
can't miss him if you stay right here.
I promised to help some fellows gather
firewood. See you later." He scooted
off the end of the bench and disap-
peared around the hedge.
"He was too short, anyhow," she
thought wretchedly.
"Liz Bennett, how funny you should be
paired off with Raymond. You're both the
best archers."
The next few minutes went by
slowly. She kept hoping a boy, any
boy, would come along and claim
her. "They're afraid of me — . They're
afraid to ask me; they think they'll
get stuck with me. Oh, I wish I
hadn't come!"
More minutes passed.
"Hey, Liz, why are you sitting
there? Been looking for you," Syl
bounced up. "Here's just the fellow
for you. Come on, Raymond, this
is Liz." She gave a short, freckled
boy at her side a push forward as
Liz stood up.
She felt her face redden, but before
she had time to say anything, Mr.
Kimberly, all six feet of him, got up
on one of the picnic tables and
started talking. "Since everyone has
been practising with bows this sum-
mer, it's been decided you'll try out
the targets set up at the edge of the
woods. The couple with the best
(Continued on following page)
245
Liz and the Picnic
(Continued from preceding page),
score will be crowned king and queen
until the time of the swimming relays
this afternoon." He held up a long,
unstrung bow. "There'll be prizes.
This is the first prize for the girl top-
ping the scoreboard, and there is a
similar prize for the boy."
A chorus of ah's rippled through
the group and was followed by loud
applause.
The lean, bronze figure of Brad
Kimberly eased up behind the older
Kimberly and stood smiling beside the
table.
She felt her heart sink with disap-
pointment. Brad had looked so tall,
so straight sitting at the wheel of his
cruiser. He couldn't be! He couldn't
be so short! He was not even as
tall as her own five seven and a half!
The boys and girls began to drift
toward the match area.
"Liz Bennett, how funny you
should be paired off with Raymond,"
a staccato voice chopped out. "You're
both the best archers!"
"Come on, let them be first!" A
tall boy rushed over and grabbed them
by their elbows and shoved them
forward.
"Okay, but the rest of you line up
before we start. Confusion is not good
for an archer," Brad Kimberly said.
"Dad, I'll organize the crowd if you
want to get these two started."
When the noise settled somewhat,
Mr. Kimberly pointed to a bin of
neatly stacked bows and arrows,
"Take your choice. There's a size
for everyone."
Liz slipped on an archer's glove
from a box on top of the bin and
wished fervently she had her own
smooth fitting deerskin. She se-
lected a bow that looked right, strung
it, and poised it expertly. It pulled
back easily. The next bow was bet-
ter, it was strong yet flexible. A
murmur of admiration came from the
crowd as she pulled it back and let
it whing. She smiled in acknowledg-
ment to their salute of a girl who
could handle a forty pound bow as if
it were five or even ten pounds light-
er. That she and Raymond were a
ridiculous couple faded from her
thoughts as she tuned her body to
the rhythm of the lusty pull. The
arrow dropped into place as if this
was her own equipment. Her thumb
rested on it momentarily, and her
246
eyes fastened on the black bull's-eye
fifty yards away. With inborn sure-
ness she released the heavy string.
The ping that followed seemed
simultaneous with the thud in the
bull's-eye.
A round of applause rang out, and
she nodded and smiled again.
Raymond picked out a forty
pounder that outmeasured him a foot
but his easy handling of it marked
him as an expert immediately.
A high pitched giggle rose above
the still crowd, "Mutt and Jeff."
A smattering of laughter flashed
through the crowd but ended abrupt-
ly on a distinct shhhhhhh from some-
one else.
She stiffened. A bitter taste filled
her mouth. Anger, wild and furious,
fumed inside her. She wanted to
spin around and put an arrow right
through that giggle!
Raymond missed the bull's-eye but
was close. Then it was her turn
again. She hardly aimed at all and
was surprised when the arrow struck
an inner circle. Escaping the amused
glances and cruel jokes was more im-
portant now than anything in the
world. It would have been better
not to have a partner at all than this
shrimp of a Raymond!
It seemed as if it were hours later
when Mr. Kimberly severed their time
limit with, "You've done very well —
a real challenge to the rest of you."
It was of no consequence whether
anyone saw her or not as she flew
toward the house. She paused behind
a bush and rubbed vigorously at the
tears rolling down her cheeks. Then
she made her way more slowly to the
house.
A uniformed maid opened the door
and gave directions to the library.
Her breath came in heavy sighs as
she moved down the long, dark hall,
but once inside the huge wing, she
let out a surprised gasp, "I've never
seen so many books!" Then sud-
denly her body arched slightly, and
her eyes felt as if they were going
to pop out of their sockets for Ray-
mond was not ten yards away.
He stared at her, alarm and shock
in his homely face.
"Raymond," she started, but his
stricken eyes wouldn't let her add,
"They embarrassed you, too. That's
why you came here, isn't it?"
"Y-y-yes, wh-what do you want?"
he quavered unsteadily.
A round of thoughts whizzed
through her mind and finally came
out. "Raymond, there's a golf course
just off the woods," she gestured in
the general direction. "It belongs to
the estate. Let's go try our luck."
"I — I've never played," he stut-
tered, "I — I think I'll stay here."
She turned and left him but kept
thinking how awful it must have
been for him. His score back there
had not been as good as hers, and she
knew he was an even better bowman
than she!
When she reached the mound of
sand at the tee-off, she sank down on
the bench and covered her face with
her hands, "There's never going to
be anyone to understand people like
Raymond and me, and the sooner
we get that through our thick skulls
the better!" And with that she flung
her head back and pushed her stiff
body off the bench. "You're going
back and face everyone. Maybe you
won't have a good time, but as long
as you came to this picnic, you're
going to be a good sport about itl"
But even the loudness of her voice
couldn't hide the trembling of it, and
though she was standing very straight
her feet were heavy as they carried
her toward the sweet smelling pine
trees at the edge of the woods skirt-
ing the golf course. She couldn't
help feeling that the farthest way
back would be best, would take up
a little more of the long, long day.
A hiss ending on a note of pain
brought her to a stop. It came again,
and her eyes picked out a sleek brown
Doberman dog straining to free his
forefoot from under a large log.
"Oh, you poor fellow," she ex-
claimed softly. "Here let me help
you." She stepped into the woods
and kneeling at the huge animal's
side said, "No wonder you're stuck.
How did you roll that log over like
that?"
He whimpered and nuzzled his
head against her arm.
"Okay, fellow, I'll get it off, but it
will take time, That boulder has
slipped against the log. Understand?"
He gazed up, and the intelligent
eyes seemed to say, "It's all right;
go ahead."
Fifteen minutes later she wiped
perspiration from her forehead with
(Concluded on page 273)
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
A
LOST
GENERATION
by Christine Wach Capener
This article on "The Lost Genera-
tion" was inspired by the return of
hope in our family after a month of
nightmarish upset, born of fear.
The return of hope brought on
by the calm, confident words of a
lovely elderly lady was such a won-
derful gift of peace to our household
that I would like to pass it on to
other families in an attempt to show
that there is and always will be
hope, of one kind or another.
— Christine Wach Capener
»»T wish I'd been a girl."
I "So do I, Danny. Ever since
* I was a little boy, I've wished
I was a girl so that I'd never have to
carry a gun over my shoulder."
I didn't look up from the paper I
was reading. I was not surprised to
hear Danny say, "I wish I'd been a
girl," because the six girls in our
neighborhood made things miserable
for him at times. They were just
enough older than he to be bossy;
but I was amazed when I heard Lee
say: "I've wished I was a girl so I
would never have to carry a gun."
It was about two weeks after the
start of the Korean War, and our
family life had been tense and ex-
pectant. Lee was twenty-one and
had been in the National Guard for
two years. Bob was going on nine-
teen, just about "draft age."
The anxiety in our home had been
mounting steadily. Each new set-
back our armies suffered brought new
fears to all of us. Lee had been a
student of world affairs and under-
stood that the need for men was im-
mediate. He knew these men would
be drawn from available troops.
Where else could the army get ready
help except from the National Guard
units? And so we waited, tensely,
expectantly, and fearfully.
Lee had recently finished college
and was establishing himself in busi-
ness. He was just beginning to feel
a useful part of this big active world.
Bob was beginning to unfold into
APRIL 1957
manhood, embarking on his task of
getting a worth-while education via
college.
Here were our two young sons for
whom the future had looked promis-
ing, coming face to face with what?
What was there to look forward to
except war?
Hope was a thing you read about,
not something you had, for it had
disappeared with the first war news
and had flown farther out of sight
with each succeeding day, until now,
here in our living room were our
two sons, the eldest and the young-
est, wishing they were girls.
"I've always wished I was a girl
so I'd never have to carry a gun."
This was the boy who when he was
only four years old had climbed to
the top of a high "slippery slide"
and come down it standing on his
feet. "To show the big boys how
to do it," he'd explained. This was
the boy who, when he had fallen and
cut a gash in his head had cried,
"No, don't carry me home; I'll walk."
This was the boy who with blood
dripping down his face and clothes
had walked the two blocks home and
said, "Mother, put a bandage on this,
please." Not too long ago he'd come
home and said, "Mother, what do you
suppose is the highest spot in town?"
"Tf you're counting the mountains
out, I guess it must be a radio or
television tower."
"Yes, it's the television tower on
top of the bank building. Boy, does
that baby sway."
My heart practically stood still,
for it made me dizzy just to look at
the tower rocking to and fro on a
windy day. But Lee was unconcerned
and thought climbing to the top of
it all in a day's experience. This,
then, was the son who wished he
would never have to carry a gun.
Fortitude, daring had been a part of
him from early childhood, yet he
could not reconcile himself to active
war duty.
"I didn't know you felt that way
about a gun, Son," I exclaimed when
I'd regained my composure.
"I do, though. Have you ever seen
me hunting deer or pheasants?"
"No, I haven't, but I didn't know
it was because — " just then our son
Bob came in from the kitchen.
"Gripes, I can't see what you're
making all this fuss about. You
won't be the only one in this fight.
What about me? I won't be far
behind you."
"Sure, I know. But what's the
use? What hope is there for us?"
and Lee looked just as hopeless as he
sounded.
This point of view was not one
that had descended on these young
men all of a sudden. They remem-
bered a world war so fierce that no
nation on earth came out of it with-
out having felt its imprint. They
lived in a time of buzz bombs, of
(Continued on page 258)
Tanks in Korea.
247
ass"
How, When, and Why
We Tithed
"by Elder Joseph E. Eohinson
*
iHiLE laboring as a mis-
sionary in the "Garden
City" of a western state,
I was taken by my com-
panion to visit a fam-
ily of investigators.
In the front part of the building
they occupied, I noticed the marble
busts of several men of national fame
and numberless plaster casts of all
kinds. From these I concluded that
my friend's investigators were artists
of no ordinary ability.
In response to our knock, a bright
little girl of five years invited us in
and informed us that "Mama will be
glad to see you, if you will please
sit down a few minutes."
While awaiting the coming of her
mother, I noted the contents of the
room and mentally made this observa-
tion, "This family has been ground
by the 'nether wheel' of adversity,
and are just beginning to recover
from its effects," for tokens of one-
time affluence showed side by side
with conditions the very reverse.
In the homemade bookcase there
were broken sets of the classics along-
side school and teachers' textbooks.
The chairs were of several different
sets, and one appeared to belong to
prehistoric times. (Since then I have
learned that it was one hundred and
forty-five years old.) The bric-a-
brac about the room also told of the
two extremes referred to. In trying
to entertain us, the little girl showed
me her purse, and that it contained
thirty cents in silver and three copper
cent pieces; with considerable pride
she informed me that the latter was
her "tithing."
I had not time to ask any questions
*Frora The Improvement Era, 4:35.
For many years Elder Robinson was president of the
California mission.
before her mother, Mrs. C, came in
and apologized for her delay, observ-
ing that it was wash day. After a
short conversation, she escorted us to
a building in the rear where she intro-
duced her husband, who appeared to
me a typical Michelangelo as he
worked away with mallet and chisel
at an immaculate block of marble,
"letting the angel out."
At the close of an interesting con-
versation with him, he said to my
companion, "I will soon have another
ten dollars in tithing for you."
This remark caused me to wonder
again, and as soon as opportunity af-
forded, I asked Elder S., "How is it
that those people talk about tithing
to you, and are not Church mem-
bers?"
He replied, "Oh, they are con-
verted to the principle and have
paid ten dollars already." A few days
later, I visited the family again, and
Mr. C. asked me "whether expenses
should be kept out of our wages or
returns for investments and the net
gains only be tithed." I informed him
that we should tithe our wages and
investment returns, for if our net
gains alone were tithed, many of us
would never pay tithing.
"That is just as we view it," both
Mr. C. and his wife replied, and he
then informed me that he had made
An
Improvement
ERA
EPRINT
248
one hundred dollars "letting the angel
out" and gave me ten dollars for his
tithing. The little girl then took oc-
casion to show me that she now had
fifty cents and "five cents for tithing."
Then I asked for an explanation of
what seemed so strange to me upon
the part of people who were not ap-
parently fully converted to the gospel,
and not members of any church.
I wish the young people of Zion
could have seen the inspiration that
lit up the intelligent face of Mrs. C,
and the enthusiasm of strong con-
viction that shone in her eyes as she
related the following on "How, when,
and why we tithed":
"I was reared in the orthodox faith,
and was a regular attendant upon
services and an active worker in the
church. Whenever any funds were
needed, I noticed that the burden al-
ways fell upon a faithful few who
struggled night and day with various
devices, such as dinners, socials, en-
tertainments of any and every descrip-
tion, by means of which the dollars
could be had. The injustice of this
unequal struggle by the few so im-
pressed me that I began to seek for
the scriptural way.
"I found Abraham giving tithes of
all he possessed to Melchizedek. Then
Malachi, 3:8-12, speaks so positively
and forcibly upon the subject that I
studied long and deeply, wondering
why people did not tithe now.
"To make these impressions still
stronger, Christ's teachings to the
Pharisees, in Matthew 23:23 and
Luke 1 1 :42, confirmed me in my be-
lief that there was only one way to
give, and that was God's way; then
all these bickerings and petty jealous-
ies attending man's way would fee
avoided.
"About the year 1895, I began to
talk to my husband about this matter
and we discussed it with ministers
who said 'after all necessary expenses
are paid, tithe the income or profit.'
" 'There it is,' I said, 'self first, God
next. There will never be any profit
at that rate.' Still not satisfied, we
continued to discuss this freely be-
tween ourselves, for we were having
the very worst financial reverses. No
matter what we attempted, everything
went against us.
(Concluded on page 286)
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Farming steps
years ahead
Higlt-€l«op Design
[Stops the eye I New ease in farming 1
ALUS-CHALMERS
Engineering in action
NEW
dynamic
D-14 tractor
with
exclusive
new
Power
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New Low-Line, High-Crop design . . .
and an exclusive new way of directing
power and speeds at will —
The Dynamic D-14 introduces a
new tractor concept !
it New Power Director gives you 8
speeds ahead. Quick -shift to high
or low range on the go . . . operat-
ing with constant-speed, live PTO.
You've never experienced anything
like it !
ix New Roll-Shift front axle spaces
front wheels without blocks or
jacks. And naturally, the original
Power-Shift rear wheels, too!
Power Steering if you want it.
-k New Enclosed Hydraulic System . . .
new Range Selector for Traction
Booster system controls traction
weight on rear wheels, automatically.
•b New Easy-Ride seat brings an en-
tirely new feeling of comfort and
security. Roomy platform lets you
step up easily and stand safely.
-j5r New D-14 cultivator is easily
mounted. Gangs roll in like a rub-
ber-tired wheelbarrow. Rear-
mounted implements interchange
with WD and WD-45 Tractors.
Snap-Coupler hitch — of course!
Try the power of the Dynamic D-14's
new Power-Crater engine. Here is
3-plow farming with a brand new get-
ahead feel. Step aboard — at your
Allis-Chalmers dealer.
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MILWAUKEE 1, WISCONSIN
Listen to the National
Farm and Home Hour. : s
NBC— Every Saturday
SNAP-COUPLER, TRACTION BOOSTER and
I POWER-CRATER are Allis-Chalmers trademarks.
APRIL 1957
249
BOOK Of M»8M0N
BOOK Of MBBH8N
ttone «W«g
Book of jtttOKimm
Volumes I and 11
' George Reynolds and Janne M. Sjodahl
This provocative, inspiring study of the Book of
Mormon gives glimpses and insight into a wonder-
ful world — the world of Lehi and his travels to the
Land of Promise and the world of his descendants
in ancient America.
Volume I . . . From First Nephi to the Book of
Omni. This critical study considers each event
from a biographical and archaeological point-of-
view. 55.00
Volume II . . . Words of Mormon and the Book of
Mosiah. Facts and background for this com-
mentary have been gleaned from many sources.
$4.00
■piiilii
IWHIIIlllli
DesGretSEtBooh Co.
44 East South Temple - Sail Lake Otv Utah
DESERET BOOK COMPANY
44 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
Gentlemen: Enclosed you will find ( ) check ( ) money
order ( ) charge to my account for ( ) Volume I,
( ) Volume II, ( ) both volumes.
Amount enclosed $
Name
Address
City Zone State
Residents of Utah include 2% sales tax.
OUTSTANDING BOOKS BY
CLAUDE RICHARDS
1. THE TEMPLE LETTERS
Messages of hope and inspira-
tion by great LDS leaders
Here is a book every LDS family will want for daily guidance.
It provides a sound education in the history of Temple Work,
the reason behind it, the necessity for it, and the joy and per-
sonal glory it brings. Included in this book are full-page
photographs of the Kirtland Temple, Nauvoo Temple, Los
Angeles Temple and architects' drawings of the new British and
New Zealand Temples. $2.75
2. J. GOLDEN KIMBALL
iiiiiiiiii
1 in nil 111
1 iiiiiiiiii
DcsecctfesBooh (0.
44 [a>t South Temple Salt Lakf-Ci'v Utah
The Amazing . . . Amusing
Biography of a Philosophical
Pioneer
Meet one of the greatest pioneers of a century ago — J. Golden
Kimball — and read about his colorful life that has now become
legend. He was a true philos-
opher, a marvelous speaker, and
a great humorist ! His faith was
boundless and he gave of him-
self to everyone. You will be
enthralled by the joys and trage-
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his life and pioneer life about
him. You will be truly inspired
by the eternal thoughts con-
tained in his sermons. $4.00
DESERET BOOK COMPANY
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^"Vndlsed you will find ( ) check ( ) money order ( ) charge to my account for the
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Residents of Utah include 2% sales tax. I
NOTHING ELSE FITS LIKE
GOLDEN
AN
EDITOR'S NOTE
With the dedication of the Swiss
and the Los Angeles temples and the
construction of other temples now in
progress, the temple-building activity
of the Church is news these days.
Some of our non-member friends are
sometimes confused on our building
of temples and chapels. President
McKay's office recently sent us this
newspaper clipping.
We cannot pass Sixteenth and
Harvard streets without looking
up at the golden figure on the spire
of the . . . Mormon Temple [Wash-
ington Chapel] . With what consum-
mate skill the artist shows the spirit
of the angel who is so boldly pro-
claiming his message! In every line
and curve of that heroic form, in the
poise of the body and tilt of the
trumpet, there is a vigor and fear-
lessness that arrests attention. No
shadow of doubt nor trace of waver-
ing weakens the call thus literally
proclaimed from the housetop.
This striking conception of the last
trump that shall sound is more than
a statue or a symbol. It almost seems
an impending event and bids us
pause for reflection. Were we a
member of one of the orthodox
churches and had remained, through
these changing times, well grounded
in the old fundamentals, we might
have some apprehensions as to just
how soon this golden trumpet may
sound.
250
Taken from the Evening Star,
Washington, D. C.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
1. Answers To Gospel Questions
Joseph Fielding Smith
President Smith makes careful analyses of many perplexing
questions asked by lay members of the Church and gives
forthright, authoritative answers. These pertinent questions
come from many diverse areas, from young and old alike. The
warmth of President Smith's understanding and his scriptural
knowledge make this book an invaluable addition to every
LDS library. Ready April 3rd.
$2.50
2. Messages Of Inspiration
A collection of addresses by the General Authorities
Choice sermons by the General Authorities, selected by them personally.
Subjects discussed include: faith, gratitude, prayer, honesty, chastity, and
many others. This is a wonderful book for your LDS family library.
$3.75
Elijah The Prophet
And His Mission
Sanation Uniwsal
3. Elijah The Prophet and His Mission and Salvation Universal
Joseph Fielding Smith
These two discourses by President Smith clear up many of the problems
and confusions concerning the Prophets Elias and Elijah and their callings.
He also speaks forcefully concerning the responsibility of the living for
the dead and the vital necessity of Temple Work. $1.50
4. Archaeology And The Book Of Mormon
Milton R. Hunter
President Hunter relates his experiences on a recent tour of
"Book of Mormon Lands" in Mexico and Central America.
His descriptions read like a fast-paced novel. Numerous photo-
graphs, in both color and black and white, pack this book
with timely interest.
$4.50
5. A Look At Mormonism
Benjamin Alward
This handsome volume tells the story of
the LDS Church in an unusual graphic
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beautifully reproduced by lithography, that
vividly descrihe many Church activities
and accomplishments. Meaningful captions
highlight each picture. This is a real treas-
ure for your family library!
$4.00
JOSEPH
SMITH
6. Discourses Of The Prophet Joseph Smith
Alma P. Burton
For many years the Church has needed a
book of the Prophet's teachings arranged
according to subject matter. This is that
book. The first-hand teachings of the
Prophet are arranged under such titles
as "God and Man," "Priesthood," Revela-
tion," and many others. This excellent
compilation will lead to a better under-
standing of the Prophet. #-3 «n
OFFICIAL PUBLISHERS TO THE LDS CHURCH
Deseret
Booh Co,
,,, 44 East South Temple - Salt Lake City. Utah .....
Gentlemen:
Enclosed you will find { ) check ( ) money order
( ) charge to my account the following amount $
for the encircled (numbered) books:
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Residents of Utah include 2% sales tax.
APRIL 1957
251
A
rthur Elijah Morgan, a vener-
able eighty-nine-year-old living
in the West Virginia hills, sits
alone in his cabin, biding out his days
in semi-darkness, for he is now almost
blind. He has an impressive memory,
but the alchemy of time has fused
the joys and sorrows of life into a
magic mellowness so that he can re-
call failure without frustration, ridi-
cule without rancor, and success with-
out self-aggrandizement.
Here is a man who has found
peace!
Anyone familiar with the rugged
terrain of West Virginia, the Moun-
tain State, knows that it takes courage
and hard work, even today, to wrest
a living from the soil. (Many farms
are located on hills so steep that
mechanized farm equipment cannot
Arthur Elijah Morgan
Venerable Man of the Hills
by Lillian Sorensen
m
what
is now
be used.) Here,
Wetzel County, the late Honorable
Aaron Morgan, of Irish ancestry,
early member of the legislature, and
his wife Elizabeth Allen Morgan pio-
neered in an era when Indians up
and down the Ohio River were a
very real menace, when wild beasts
foraged in the hills and hollows, and
when the formidable "shootin' arn"
had to be always within reach for
protection. Reminiscing, the "Ballad
Into a family of four children,
Arthur Elijah was born on March 7,
1868. As a boy he knew hard work.
He also learned to hunt and fish, not
as a sport, but to supplement the food
supply. At the age of nineteen he
married Louisa Jane Lemasters, and
trjey became the parents of seven chil-
dren, four of whom are still living in
the vicinity. With a growing family,
Elijah turned to railroading on the
Baltimore & Ohio, at the same time
working his small farm.
Elijah recalls vividly when mission-
aries penetrated the Ohio Valley.
About a year after he and Louisa
were married, two strangers knocked
at their door. They explained that
they were ciders of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and
that they were going to hold services
in the neighborhood that evening.
of Louis Wetzel," the Davy Crockett They invited Elijah and his wifc tQ
of West Virginia, comes to mind: attend. Louisa, who was ill, said she
certainly would not be able to go.
Apparently ignoring her remark, one
of the elders said, "We shall expect
you." Without quite understanding,
Elijah watched them go down the
road. He became keenly interested
when he saw them pause in the shade
of a pawpaw* tree. There they knelt,
So still I follow the trail of the braves,
And wraith-like still I go stealing
Over the lands the Ohio laves
From Cincinnati to the Big Wheeling.
And on autumn nights when dark winds
carol
And the thunderstorms roll and rally,
You can hear me blow through my rifle
barrel
The length of the Ohio Valley.
*West Virginia banana
Arthur Elijah Morgan at the venerable age of eighty-nine lives alone in
his cabin in the West Virginia hills.
252
and when they arose they returned
to the cabin and said, "If you are
not at the services this evening, we
will know that you don't want to
come." As they closed the door be-
hind them, the astonished Elijah
turned to see Louisa getting out of
bed, declaring she felt as well as she
ever did. She prepared supper, and
they went to the services. Having
instructed and preached, the elders
gave Elijah some literature and the
Book of Mormon. He was asked to
study this book, together with the
Holy Bible, to corroborate and make
plain the truths he may not hereto-
fore have understood. Leaving an
injunction to search the scriptures,
the elders were on their way.
A man with little or no educational
advantages, Elijah overcame illiter-
acy; the Bible and the Book of Mor-
mon became his textbooks; he read
aloud, believing that if he could hear
the words he would be better able to
remember. More than two years
passed. Elijah had indeed searched
the scriptures, and he prayed that
the missionaries might return soon.
Asked for his first impression of
Mormonism, Elijah replied, "Made
sense."
It is now sixty years since he en-
tered the waters of baptism — the first
person in this area to do so. This is
how he recalls his baptism: One sum-
mer day he heard via the mountain
grapevine that Mormon missionaries
were in the neighborhood. Overjoyed,
for it had been a long time since he
had seen any, Elijah left a lamp burn-
ing in the window when he retired.
During the night, however, he became
ill, so ill that he feared he would die,
and he wanted baptism first. In spite
of the pain he was suffering, he
walked some distance, he doesn't
know how many miles, through the
hollows and over the hills in the
inky darkness. He has no idea how
he found the way, but he finally
staggered to the door of the cabin
where the elders were. His strength
(Continued on page 269)
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Today . . . tomorrow . . . and for many
years to come, the magnificent chapels
that dot our Intermountain West will be as
much in style as they were when first constructed.
Brick's timeless qualities together with the inspiration
of trained architects, have made these modern structures everlasting
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construction . . . structural soundness . . . beauty . . . low original cost and minimum
maintenance. Build for today . . . build for the years to come . . . specify BRICK !
INTERSTATE
3100 SOUTH 11th EAST
APRIL 1957
BRICK CO.
SALT LAKE CITY,
UTAH
253
(Continued from page 232)
seemed to Ross that not a week went
by without bringing some painful
complication, besides polio, to fight.
His weight dropped from 160 pounds
to 79 pounds.
For more than two years these set-
backs meant slow, interrupted thera-
py, and lessened Ross's chances for
life and for reactivated muscles. Mus-
cles, too long idle, frequently do not
awaken.
In December 1953, fourteen months
after becoming ill, Ross was flown to
Hondo, California, where the largest
respiratory center in the world,
Rancho Los Amigos, is located. He
still was not free from kidney and
other complications, but it was at
Hondo that uninterrupted therapy
eventually got underway.
So long had the muscles been idle
that they seemed to Ross to be locked
in their immobility. Every move-
ment brought excruciating pain. One
of the doctors likened it to the snap-
ping of a bone. But the therapists
were as persistent as their exercises
were painful, and three times a day
and at 3 a.m. they exercised his limbs.
Other treatments included electro-
therapy and hydrotherapy. Progress
was so slow it was almost indiscern-
ible, but to Ross it was real, and with
the passing of time, the pain lessened.
Today there is very little pain, al-
though daily exercises go on.
It was at Rancho Los Amigos that
Ross learned loasto phregno (frog)
breathing, a relatively new develop-
ment in the rehabilitation of bulbar
polio patients. It took him eight
months of daily practice to master
this process of gulping air and forcing
it down, but it was time well spent
because it enabled him to spend short
periods sitting up in the rocking bed
when it was not in motion, and
eventually even in a wheel chair. He
uses frog breathing more all the time.
In March 1955 Ross was flown
home to Leeds; a special room was
built onto the family home; and the
equipment necessary to keep him alive
installed by the Polio Foundation. It
was a big event for the small town
and for the Dixie College student
body. It was an especially happy
time for a mother who had spent the
first nine months of his illness at his
bedside, and for a father who spent
those months alone, caring for two
youngsters still at home. It was a
254
The Ross Eagar Story
blessing to parents who had made
twenty-seven round trips to Cali-
fornia within fifteen months.
Since his return, Rqss has con-
tinued to improve. He can use
his left arm well, and his right
arm, so long idle from intravenous
feeding, somewhat. He can turn his
head and shoulders, hold himself in a
sitting position, and feed himself by
resting his wrists in suspended loops.
He can sit in a wheel chair for several
hours at a time. His ability to speak
returned after much diligent prac-
tice, and he has also learned to swal-
low.
But he still does not have health,
as we think of health. Much of his
body is still immobile, and therefore
susceptible to other ills. A common
cold can be very dangerous. He can-
not move his legs or raise or lower
nimself by the strength of his own
arms. His breathing apparatus still
does not work, and every frog breath,
because it is as conscious an act as
anything he does, is mentally tiring.
Science has partially compensated
for these physical limitations. Many
hours a day, the rocking bed breathes
for him. He sleeps in an "artificial
chest" called a Monahan which is
fastened securely over his chest every
night and which is electrically run.
He still has in his neck the tube which
was inserted when he entered the
hospital more than four years ago,
and it is easily attached to the nearby
electric "coughing machine," which
clears his throat for him. His father
has built a small power plant behind
the home, and it is wired to go on
automatically in case of power fail-
ure. Attached to his bed are three
switches, also installed by his father,
with which he controls the motion of
APRIL-SONG
By Evelyn Tooley Hunt
TThe day the world began to sing
Its April music, every new-returning bird
Repeated verses made that first warm spring
When only God heard.
The wounds of winter had been long
On hills whose scars were whitely bandaged
still with snow,
And yet hills, too, were singing April-song,
Soft, and sweet, and slow.
The tune was woven under ice;
Its lyrics antedate our spoken word.
The world in April sang of paradise. . . .
And it was I who heard.
his rocking bed, the radio, and the
lights,
Ross does not talk about the things
he has learned through this experi-
ence, or "school," as he calls it, but
they are immediately apparent. In
the first place, he now exhausts his
abilities. Every muscle of his body
which is usable, he uses. He con-
stantly works with those which are
idle. For more than a year he has
taught in his home a Sunday School
class of men and women his age,
sharing with them the knowledge of
the scriptures he has gained while ill.
He still studies, and two of the friends
he made in the hospital have joined
the Church because of his influence.
He has learned to use the electric
typewriter furnished him, and he con-
tinues his Dixie College education at
home.
His sincere and vital appreciation
for not only scientific helps, but also
for the beauties of the world and its
people, for every kind act, however
small, is there in his sparkling eyes.
After four and a half years of great
dependence, he still appreciates all
that is done for him. After receiv-
ing hundreds of visitors over the
years, he still greets each one with
warmth and thanks. The influence
Ross has had on these people would
be difficult to measure. Those who
call go away with no pity, unless it
is for spiritual weakness in them-
selves.
Ross has had blessings under the
hands of President David O. McKay,
Elders Harold B. Lee, Alma Sonne,
John Longden, and the late Matthew
Cowley of the General Authorities,
and from numerous other bearers of
the priesthood. He is convinced that
these blessings, and the fasting and
prayers of his family and friends, have
saved his life and made possible his
improvement. This conviction has
given him a concept of life as some-
thing eternal, in which promises to
him will eventually be realized if he
is obedient, patient, and strong in his
faith.
One of the first families to visit
Ross after his return to Leeds was the
Fish family from nearby Anderson
Junction, and a daughter, Zelda, came
oftenest of all. A popular high school
senior, she had excelled in her FHA
work and was a talented vocalist. She
(Concluded on page 257)
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Standard tries a flood of fire to make
worn out oil fields produce again
Fire flooding produces heat and pressure to boil out previously unrecoverable
crude oil, driving it underground to nearby producing wells.
MANY INACTIVE WELLS STILL HAVE LOTS OF OIL
left underground in spite of the industry's great advances in
oil recovery. Our country must have this oil to meet the
growing power needs of industry, the Armed Forces and
motorists. That's why Standard is trying a new conservation
experiment called "fire flooding."
We ignite some of the oil in a pool . . . control burning by
regulating the air supply. Heat and pressure drive the oil to
surrounding wells for pumping. It will take more than a year's
time and a million dollars to see if fire flooding works. It's
worth the effort because it could add more to U.S. under-
ground oil reserves than the discovery of an entire new oil field.
Helping find new sources of oil to
supply the 13 million barrels per
day the U.S. will need in 1966
1956
8,827,000
barrels per day
1966
1 3,000,000
barrels per day
Standard's petroleum engineers say,
"Back in 1925 the industry could predict
only about 20 % recovery from a new field.
Modern secondary recovery methods, of
which fire flooding is one of the latest,
could more than double recovery."
>-/ ..A
^ STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA
plans ahead to serve you better
APRIL 1957
255
EASY
STEPS
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I
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&H
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\_sn f\edt
nana a
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jbek
Richard L. Evans
[" ast week we spoke of unfinished business, of things left
■^ undone that hang over our heads. And one of the very
worrisome things that hangs heavily over our heads is a
debt that is due — or overdue. Paradoxically, it is a worry if
we do worry about debt, and it is another kind of worry if
we don't worry about debt. On this question, there are two
extremes a man might take: One is living too much for the
future — saving everything. The other is living too much
"off" the future — living on expected income before it is
earned. (A still further extreme is to live off income that
likely never will be earned — which is to live off the efforts of
others, sometimes even to placing a burden on those yet
unborn. Many people, through the uncertainties and un-
foreseen shortenings of life, incur obligations which they
don't live to pay. But what about deliberately binding the
unborn with a burden of debt? What about shifting debts
to the shoulders of those who had no voice in the making
of them? This is a side of the subject of debt that should
always seriously be considered — for a person who is in debt
to his grandfather as well as to his grandchildren — a person
who is in debt to the past and to the future, is indeed deeply
in debt.) So much for the question of binding the unborn.
And now a moment on a personal side of the subject: It is
true that it has come to be expected that we shall obligate
ourselves somewhat for the future. Most of us would never
acquire homes or much of what makes them comfortable or
convenient, except for the possibility of "paying as we go."
But the point at which personal debt would seem to become
a matter of very considerable concern is not so much for the
things we use as we pay, but the things we have used up
before we pay. This puts a mortgage on a future in which
we have no equity. And now as to an attitude toward debt:
So long as we are acknowledging it and reducing it — keeping
it current — there can be soundness and self-respect. But
whenever we fail to feel a sense of obligation for what we
owe, or whenever we're not paying it off (or never expect
to pay it off), then there is a serious deterioration of some-
thing inside. And now to repeat in part some sentences
from the past: The only way to get a load lifted is to begin
to lift it. The only way to get a job done is to begin to do it.
The only way to get a debt paid is to begin to pay it. There
is no man whose life cannot be improved by repenting — and
part of all repentance is to reverse the process — to stop doing
what we shouldn't do, and to start doing what we should
do — and so it is also in reducing a debt: We have to start
to pay; we have to reverse the process.
Uke Spoken lA/ord FROM TEMPLE square
PRESENTED OVER KSL AND THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING
SYSTEM, FEBRUARY 3, 1957
Copyright 1957
£
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256
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
The Ross Eagar Story
(Concluded from page 254)
remembered well the handsome, dark-
haired drummer she had seen years
earlier when the Eagar family played
for a home-town dance, and she saw
in this Ross the same charm she had
seen then, plus a depth and beauty of
soul that won her heart. (To Ross
she soon became a source of inspira-
tion and strength, and his love for
her grew with each visit.) A year
after Ross returned home, they be-
came engaged. On November 23,
1956, they were married in the St.
George Temple.
They live in a small white frame
house on the main highway through
Leeds, one block from his parents'
home. Zelda has learned to use his
equipment and do daily therapy.
Ross's main worry now seems to be
that between her good cooking, and
the best appetite he has ever had, he
will gain weight too fast.
Ross and Zelda look ahead guided
by the desires of any young LDS
couple establishing a home. They
want to be active in the Church, and
they want economic independence.
Zelda, an individual award winner
in Toquerville Ward every year since
she entered Bee Hive, continues dili-
gently her Church work in Leeds
Ward. Ross plans to go on teaching
in the Sunday School, and as his
health improves, to serve more ac-
tively in the Church. This is one
of his foremost desires.
Another has to do with making the
home where he and Zelda live debt-
free. By continuing the business course
he began at Dixie College before his
illness, and by adding to it work in
public speaking, Ross is preparing
himself to earn a living. Since his
marriage, he has begun to sell life
and automobile insurance. Although
he now works entirely by telephone,
he is sure that eventually personal
contacts will be possible. After more
college training and experience, Ross
and Zelda see widening opportuni-
ties.
Together, their faith in a good fu-
ture is convincing. They voice it
humbly and rarely, but it is in their
faces. They recall the blessings prom-
ised them, and look to their fulfil-
ment. But it is not a boastful faith.
For people so young, with years of
hard work before them, it is remark-
ably tempered with patience, submis-
siveness, and understanding.
APRIL 1957
Earn More — With Safety
Christopher Columbia Says...
lake Your Savings
Pay YOU...
Make your money earn the most . .
big 4%. Experienced lending . . . low
overhead . . . and no gifts let us
share the earnings with you. Invest
with complete safety in this state-
government supervised company.
All money received until the 15th
of the month, earns from the
1st. Open an account now
either in person or by mail.
SAVE
MAIL!
With Si
IN
SUGAR
HOUSE
Elbert R. Curtis
Dr. J. Le Roy Kimball
J. Fred Pingree
m
SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSN.
1056 EAST 21ST SOUTH ST.
SALT LAKE CITY 6, UTAH
STATE
[SUPERVISED
Elbert R.
Curtis
President
Robert V.
Hodgen
Exec.
Vice Pres.
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS*
T. J. Christiansen
Leo L. Capson
Dee F. Anderson
Louis H. Callister
Sid N. Cornwall
George A. Dixon
Ueseret News I ress one
a wedaino invitation pnnfina service tit
for the most discriminating bride. A
wide variety o| styles and cards are
available to add the perfect {.ouch to
■a cjirl s most important event-
S1
>p<
Deseret News Press
31 RICHARDS STREET
SALES OFFICE - PHONE EM 4-2581
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
257
Hans Brinker
and the
( Faultless Version)
On a bright winter morning
long ago, Hans Brinker was
kneeling on the bank of a
frozen canal, putting on his
Silver Skates. His mother was
in the house . . .
Then one day she heard that
hot laundry starch makes iron-
ing so much easier — and
quicker, too, because hot starch
penetrates — goes in, not on
the fabric, as cold starch does.
So she lived happily ever after.
Her iron glided quickly and
smoothly like Hans' silver
skates as she happily hummed,
"Makes your ironing easy . . .
a joy — not a job!"
with a mountain of ironing to
do. "Oh," she thought, "if only
my iron would glide as quickly
and smoothly as Hans' skates
do, ironing would be fun
stead of work!"
m-
$AVe
MINUTES//
"I'll try it!" she cried. "Next
washday I'll take 20 extra sec-
onds to make hot Faultless
Starch and save 20 minutes or
more when I iron. That's where
time counts!"
If you'd like to save 20 minutes
or more of ironing time, use hot
Faultless Starch — Blued and
Perfumed, or regular white.
You'll find hot Faultless Starch
is the easiest starch to iron.
P. S. Clothes look "just-ironed" longer, too,
when you use hot Faultless Starch. You'll
not only feel less tired after ironing with
Faultless, but you'll take new pride in your
family's appearance, when you switch to
hot Faultless Starch. Try it. You'll see.
America's Smoking Habits
{Concluded from page 218)
who are cigaret smokers use over one
pack a day, whereas only about one-
eighth of the non -whites smoke this
much.
Two and a half million men smoke
one or more cigars daily; 7,500,000
smoke them occasionally.
Three and a half million men
smoke a pipe regularly, 4,500,000 oc-
casionally.
An estimated million men and half
a million women have stopped
cigaret smoking entirely since the fall
of 1953. One year earlier, between
the fall of 1952 and the fall of 1953,
about 600,000 men and women quit
smoking. Most of those who gave up
cigarets during the past year and a
half were under forty-five years old.
Despite the relatively large in-
crease in the number who have given
up cigaret smoking, about half of the
men and a quarter of the women in
the country are still smoking cigarets
daily.
The findings indicate that there
are larger percentages of smokers
among those below or above those
ages. Greater diversity in smoking
practices among women was dis-
closed, however, ranging from thirty-
five percent of the twenty -five to
thirty-four group, to only four percent
of those sixty-five and over.
A Lost Generation
{Continued from page 247)
faster-than-sound airplanes, in the
time of wage and labor disputes. They
were living in the "Atomic Age." Per-
haps there was little wonder that
they felt there was no hope.
A family unit, a state, a nation, or
a world without hope is a dreary
thing to contemplate. The place to
begin to revive hope must be the
family unit. But how? I cast about
in my mind trying to find a peg on
which to hang a try at reviving hope
in my family. How could I best
help my sons who were floundering
in a world of despair?
Many years ago when Bob was a
small boy, he'd come to me saying,
{Continued on page 260)
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
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Get gentle, high-speed raking! Rake all your hay when it's
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Mccormick no. 45
Proved and approved by over 99,000 satisfied users! The
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. . . performance yet unequalled!
You bale all crops, long or short. Hold desired density
automatically with optional hydraulic regulator. You get
positive tying without frequent adjustment . . . firm ties
close to the bale prevent buckling. Non-stop plunger
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your No. 45 — pto or engine drive — match tonnage with
outfits claiming 30 to 50% greater capacity.
FREE.'
* McCormick baler twine to tie
your first 1,000 bales!
You get 2 bales of high-quality
McCormick baler twine FREE with your
new McCormick twine-tie baler. Enough
to tie 1,000 average 36-inch bales of
hay! We make this offer to prove to
you "your baler works better" with
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bale faster, smoother . . . tie your hay
at lower cost per ton!
Ask your IH Dealer for proof that it pays you to own a
McCormick No. 45 for as little as two day's baling a year.
Buy through the IH Income Purchase Plan.
SEE YOUR
INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER
DEALER
International Harvester products pay for themselves in use — McCormick Farm Equipment,
Farmall and International Tractors . . . Motor Trucks . . . Construction Equipment — General
Office, Chicago 1, III.
APRIL 1957
259
NEW CARNATION
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260
A Lost Generation
(Continued from page 258)
"Help me, Mother. I need you to
help me."
I can remember the situation was
one which concerned a psychological
problem between him and his teacher.
I was reluctant to interfere because
I didn't want to weaken the boy by
solving his problems for him.
"How can I help you, Bob? Isn't
this a problem for you and your
teacher to figure out?"
"Yes, Mother, it is, but you can
help me by making me strong inside,
like you did when I was in the first
grade."
So, here again, many years later^
these two young men needed to be
made "strong" inside. The starting
point to revive hope?
That afternoon during the course
of running a few errands, I stopped
at the bank. A lovely white-haired
woman, who was a neighbor, stopped
to chat. I asked her if her young
married son, who was in the National
Guard, had been called to active duty
yet. When she told me he hadn't
been called, I said, "It'll go hard on
him to leave, won't it? I understand
his wife is expecting a baby soon."
This beautiful white-haired woman
smiled calmly and answered: "Don
understands that he'll be given
strength to meet this emergency. The
baby will be a comfort to his wife
when he leaves."
I marveled at her composure and
said: "You seem undisturbed by this
crisis."
"Not undisturbed. Let us say that
I have hope it will terminate soon."
"Hope? Did you say hope? My
sons feel there is no hope. They be-
lieve they belong to a lost genera-
tion."
"They belong to a difficult genera-
tion. One that I believe is to give
birth to a bright new world. There's
always hope."
rpnEN you believe we are in har-
■*- mony with God?"
"Indeed I do, and I believe we'll
always have hope. You see, if you
cannot hope for one thing, then you
must hope for something else."
In repeating her words to our sons
that night I said, "You see, boys,
this is the way it works: If we can't
hope to stay out of the conflict, we
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
must hope for an early end to it: If
we can't hope that we may live a
peaceful life, then we must hope that
we may return to peace and a better
world. I could go on and on just
as you can, with a new hope taking
the place of each of the old ones you
believe to have been destroyed."
These young men in front of me
relaxed their grim expressions, and I
saw hope born anew out of this
courageous woman's words: "There's
always hope, if not for one thing,
then for another."
Neither Children Nor Adults
(Continued from page 233)
cold or hungry youngster is a poor
subject for any kind of learning. Wise
parents will understand the physical
needs of their boys and girls, will
recognize the type of behavior which
is a symptom of some unmet physical
need, and will adjust the home to this
need.
Sometimes there exist physical
defects, such as infected tonsils, incor-
rect posture, nasal difficulties, hear-
ing difficulties, defective eyes, heart
ailments, malnourishment, or other
difficulties which have developed over
a long or short period of time. These
chronic problems are serious not only
because young people so handicapped
cannot profit fully from education nor
live abundantly, but also because they
sometimes come so slowly that they
are mistaken for character defects.
Consider, for example, the following
case history.
Elmer was a large boy, larger for
his age than the other children in the
family. At school and at home he
would often go to sleep. Often at a
social or at Church he would drop
off to sleep at the strangest times. He
tried to stay awake, but he always
seemed to fail in his efforts. His par-
ents talked to him about it and were
worried. Other children
make fun of him and call
"sleepyhead." His posture became
poor and his expression listless.
Friends, teachers, and even his par-
ents, began to consider him mental-
ly deficient. The family doctor finally
diagnosed the trouble as a thyroid
shortage. Elmer began to take treat-
ments, and within six months most
of his annoying symptoms had disap-
peared.
(Continued on following page)
APRIL 1957
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261
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262
Neither Children Nor Adults
(Continued from preceding page)
It is not always possible for parents
to identify or to know exactly what
to do in case of physical defect in a
child, but a wise parent will be care-
ful not to attribute its annoying symp-
toms to a character defect.
Equally as important as the actual
physical health and rate of develop-
ment of our youth are their feelings
about their own health, their ability,
their stature. An adolescent often
needs help in understanding why he
feels and acts as he does. It may
cause him much anxiety if he feels
that he is not developing normally.
He may feel that he is not so tall as
he would like to be, or he may be
afraid that he is going to be too tall.
And just as a boy may feel resentful
and be concerned about his temporary
shortness, a teen-aged girl may worry
because she is larger than her friends.
Her height makes her feel awkward.
She may feel that her neck is too long,
or that her hands or feet are too big.
It is not enough for parents to tell
their children that their physical de-
velopment is normal for their age.
It is important that adolescents be
reasonably well-satisfied with their
physical condition. Wise parents,
although they cannot always under-
stand the interrelationships of physi-
cal changes which occur, can assist
the child to develop proper attitudes
and to accept these changes as in-
evitable and natural growth processes
They can develop an understanding
sympathetic attitude toward them and
refrain from intensifying the natural
difficulties which arise. Many ado-
lescent fears and worries might thus
be eliminated.
The important thing for parents to
understand about the physical needs
and characteristics of adolescents is
that their speed and variations have a
direct and indirect effect upon learn-
ing, attitudes, and emotional health.
So many things depend upon the
physical condition of the individual
that we as parents must realize and
understand how closely the behavior
of our children is related to body
growth.
Most of our children will come
through safely. But all of them need
and will appreciate a wholesome
understanding of the changes and ef-
fects of physical growth. As Latter-
day Saint parents let us give patient,
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
help to our teen-agers. Let us give
intelligent information and guidance
in order that their attitudes and char-
acter may develop in a desirable way.
Let us help them to avoid unneces-
sary suffering.
The Message of the Book of Job
(Continued from page 239)
But throughout, the confidence the
Lord expressed in Job from the be-
ginning is borne out. God knew his
heart and the depth of his integrity.
Job declares:
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in
him. ... I will maintain my own ways
before him.
He also shall be my salvation. . . .
... I know that I shall be justified.
(Ibid., 13:15-16, 18.)
It is also in answer to one of his
friend's arguments that Job utters his
powerful testimony on the resurrec-
tion,
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and
that he shall stand at the latter day upon
the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
(Ibid., 19:25-26.)
Beginning with chapter thirty-two
the young man Elihu comes onto the
scene. In accord with the customs of
the time that youth should not speak
before age, nor speak at all without
permission, Elihu has listened while
his three older friends have spoken
and has heard Job's rejoinders. As
he has listened, he has become more
and more out of patience with the
accusations that are made, and final-
ly, in disregard of custom, his dis-
pleasure breaks forth, and he utters
his version of the matter.
Elihu begins by denouncing his
older companions as not having used
wisdom in their arguments. Then he
turns to Job and, after quoting some
of Job's own words in maintaining
his innocence, answers that God is
greater than man and need not give
an account of his actions unto man,
although he can do so if he so
desires. He recounts the powers of
God in his ability to protect man's
soul from the pit or his life from
perishing by the sword; how he chas-
(Continued on following page)
APRIL 1957
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The Message of the Book of Job
(Continued from preceding page)
tens man, yet is gracious unto the
sufferer and finds a ransom; how he
answers prayers and renders unto
man his righteousness and accepts
repentance. He recounts God's jus-
tice and wisdom, how he abhors and
will punish evil, and considers not
man's opinion of himself. The sea-
sons and the elements he holds in his
hands, and man cannot know God
nor all his ways.
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^Jhe Ljodpei of Worn
a
Richard L. Evans
TT* here are many opposing opinions as to what is considered
■*■ to be success. And while some seek to prepare them-
selves for maximum service, there are some who seem to
dedicate themselves to the idea of being free from work. But
even when work seemingly ceases to be a necessity, it never
ceases to be a principle and a privilege. Even when we don't
have to work, it is good to want to and wonderful to be able
to. And there is no way of going through life without con-
suming someone's work — our own or others. We can't eat
without consuming someone's work. We can't travel without
consuming someone's work. We can't use any substance or
accept any service without accepting someone's work. No
matter what nature provides, or what men are able to make
machines do, work is always somehow in the process in
bringing the final product to people. And no matter how
much life becomes mechanized, men cannot be fully happy
or have a satisfying sense of accomplishment — regardless of
necessity — without willing work. The Lord God himself so
ordered it: Surely he could have made less work for men if
he had thought it were wise. Surely he could have put the
precious metals of the earth in easy, convenient places.
Surely he could so have ordered nature that we could reach
out and take our living almost effortlessly. Surely he could
so have ordered the elements that we would have little or no
physical discomfort to guard against. (Furthermore, he could
have given us all the answers and spared us the need for
faith as well as work, without so much searching and seeking.)
But what would that have done for our development? With-
out work to do, without problems to solve, without challeng-
ing situations to wrestle with, without the necessity to learn
and the need to believe and the willingness to do, what kind
of soft and unresourceful creatures would we be? This we
recall from Carlyle — this from his words on work: "The most
unhappy of all men is the man who cannot tell what he is
going to do, who has ... no work cut out for him in the
world. . . . For work is the grand cure of all the maladies
and miseries that ever beset mankind — honest work, which
you intend getting done. . . v"1 "The latest Gospel in this
world is Know thy work and do it. . . . Blessed is he who has
found his work; let him ask no other blessedness."2
Spoken (/l/ofd
ZJke Spoken l/i/ord from temple square
PRESENTED OVER KSL AND THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING
SYSTEM, FEBRUARY 10, 1957
Copyright 1957
^Thomas Carlyle, Inaugural Address at Edinburgh, 1866.
'-Ibid., Past and Present, Gh. XI.
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264
2
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
It seems that the Lord must have
inspired Elihu to say these things.
They provide the setting for the pow-
erful and very humbling message
which immediately follows as the
Lord speaks directly to Job from a
whirlwind.
This answer from the Lord to Job
contains some of the most sublime
thoughts and expressions to be found
in all literature. It should. It is the
direct word of the Lord, and who is
there who can claim greater perfec-
tion and utterance?
The Lord begins wtih his question
as to where Job was when the founda-
tions of the earth were laid, when all
the sons of God shouted for joy, im-
plying that Job was somewhere pres-
ent. Then he forcefully calls attention
to the fact that the details of this
creation were minutely worked out
and put into operation by himself in
all their parts.
Who shut up the sea with doors. . . .
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, and
no further: and here shall thy proud waves
be stayed. (Ibid., 38:8, 11.)
From this beginning the Lord sum-
marizes more of his creations, making
it clear to Job that an all-wise Creator
has made the earth and all things
connected with it. With each new
piece of evidence he stamps more
indelibly the truth that with the
power and knowledge thus manifest,
he, the Lord, has all things in his
power and can control them as he
wills. He impresses Job and all who
read and understand with the majesty
and perfection of his creations.
Man cannot control God's crea-
tions.
Hast thou commanded the morning since
thy days, and caused the dayspring to know
his place . . . ?
Hast thou entered into the springs of the
sea or hast thou walked in the search of
the depth?
Have the gates of death been opened unto
thee, or hast thou seen the shadow of death?
Hast thou perceived the breath of the
earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
Where is the way where light dwelleth?
And as for darkness, where is fhe place
thereof? (Ibid., 38:12, 16-19.)
Does Job have an understanding
of all these things?
The Lord moves into the expanse
of space and asks Job if he can bind
the sweet influences of Pleiades or
loose the bands of Orion. Can Job
understand the ordinances of heaven
under which these things were created
(Continued on following page)
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pride — and popularitu — and principle
pnnapte
Richard L. Evans
? i
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i^kNE of the timeless questions— one seemingly
V./ never settled — is: "What makes people do
what they do?" Human nature, we sometimes
simply say — but human nature is no simple thing
to consider, with all the complexities and problems,
and all the motives of men. But no matter what
other motives there may be, certainly pride is
frequently a factor in the actions of people — and
is somewhat inherent in us all. All of us like
to be well thought of; all of us are somewhat in-
fluenced by other peoples' opinions — even those
who profess not to care about other peoples' opin-
ions. People like to be approved. People like
the good opinion of other people. We see it
from the earliest years of youth, as youngsters
are sensitive to the opinions of playmates. And
one of the most important decisions of life is
deciding by whom we most want to be approved —
and what price we would be willing to pay for
approval. Will a boy do anything a crowd dares
him to do, just for the sake of pride, just for
supposed approval? Will a girl relax her stand-
ards, or sacrifice personal purity, for the sake of
supposed popularity or approval? Will a man
suppress a truth he has found for the sake of
professional approval? (We could make a long
list of those who have been martyred or mis-
understood because they valued some truth, some
discovery, above popular or professional ap-
proval.) The disapproval of the crowd, the dis-
approval of fashion, the disapproval of prevailing
opinion isn't ever easy to take — but it is easier
than the kind of conscience that comes with trad-
ing principle for pride. Repentance itself is a
hard principle for a very proud person because
repentance means admitting a mistake. Sometimes
a person who has committed himself to a par-
ticular position would willingly alter it, would
willingly repent, except for pride, except for ap-
pearances. And one unfortunate part of sus-
taining a false pride or a false position is the effect
it has on others also: For all of us (whether we
want it so or not), have more influence on others
than we sometimes suppose. Our every attitude
and utterance, our respect or disrespect, what
others, feel from us, affect our families, our friends,
and all who publicly or privately observe the living
of our lives. And to the young especially — and
also even to the old — we would say: Never com-
promise principle or high personal standards for
a supposed popularity or approval, or for the sup-
posed good opinion of any person or crowd or
clique— for the kind of pride that is bought with
principle comes at too high a price.
Uhe Spoken lAJord FROM TEMPLE SQUARE
PRESENTED OVER KSL AND THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING
SYSTEM, FEBRUARY 24, 1957
Copyright 1957
/no
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APRIL 1957
265
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266
The Message of the Book of Job
(Continued from preceding page)
or can he set the dominion of the
earth, or lift his voice to the clouds
"that abundance of water may cover
thee"? (Ibid., 38:34.) Can Job con-
trol the clouds in wisdom or stay or
bring rain, "when the dust grows
hard and the clods cleave together"?
(Ibid., 38:38.)
Can Job, by speaking, make any-
thing so beautiful as the goodly wings
of the peacock or give wings and
feathers to the ostrich or create the
instinct that makes the ostrich leave
her eggs in the warm sand to hatch?
Has Job given the horse strength and
his usefulness in battle? Does the
hawk fly with wisdom given it by
Job or the eagle mount up at his
command?
Bringing the point more directly
to Job, the Lord asks:
Shall he that contendeth with the Al-
mighty instruct him? he that reproveth God,
let him answer it. (Ibid., 40:2.)
By this time Job is fairly humbled,
acknowledging that although he has
spoken out against God because of
Job's suffering, he will do so no more.
But the Lord is not through. The
message that he is teaching is not
planted deeply enough, and he con-
tinues with some direct instructions
on how to be humble.
Gird up thy loins now like a man: I
will demand of thee, and declare thou unto
me.
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment?
wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be
righteous?
Hast thou an arm like God? (Ibid.,
40:7-9.)
Job is enjoined to deck himself
with majesty and excellency and to
array himself with glory and beauty,
to cast aside his wrath and his pride;
Then will I also confess unto thee that
thine own right hand can save thee. (Ibid.,
40:14.)
Job is now filled with the humility
that he has lacked and acknowledges
the power and right of God to govern
all things.
I know that thou canst do every thing and
that no thought can be withholden from
thee.
Who is he that hideth counsel without
knowledge? therefore have I uttered that
I understood not, things too wonderful for
me, which I knew not. . . .
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the
ear, but now mine eyes seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in
dust and ashes. (Ibid., 42:2-3, 5-6.)
Job's repentance is accepted, and
in spite of and following all his
calamities, his integrity is fully re-
warded. The power of God to justify
his servants and reward their faith
and integrity is manifest to him by
a restoration of a double portion of
all Job had before his testing by Satan
began.
So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job
more than his beginning, for he had four-
teen thousand sheep, and six thousand
camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen and
a thousand she asses.
He also had seven sons and three' daugh-
ters. . . .
And in all the land were no women found
so fair as the daughters of Job.
After this lived Job an hundred and forty
years, and saw his sons and his sons' sons,
even four generations.
So Job died, being old and full of days.
(Ibid., 42:12-13, 15-17.)
"Nephites" Found in
New Mexico
(Continued from page 243)
confidence in Brother Tenney, he put
his granddaughter (a very handsome
young woman) in his charge, as he
was going away for a season, and a
young Mexican wished to court her,
and the old gentleman did not wish
him to marry her. And as the peo-
ple in that village had full confidence
in him, on our arrival we were kindly
received and entertained by all we
called upon.
I look upon the Isletas as the most
industrious and hard laboring people
of any I ever 'met (the Latter-day
Saints not excepted). This Nephite
village has a field of corn ten miles
in length and one in width. It lies
north and south of their village and
is irrigated. The corn is quite as good
as any I ever saw in Utah, and per-
fectly clean; not a weed could be
found in a hundred acres. They
have also twenty-one vineyards
bordering on their city and 1,000
vines to each vineyard, some of them
60 years of age, all kept perfectly
clean and loaded with the finest of
fruit, and as heavy a crop as I ever
saw in St. George. The vines stand
from two to four feet in height and,
in the fall of the year, each vine has
a mound of earth formed around it,
until it is covered out of sight. In
(Continued on following page)
APRIL 1957
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Workshop on teaching food and
nutrition.
Summer workshop of Utah Council
of Teachers of English.
Summer institute of Junior Engi-
neers and Scientists.
Health education workshop.
Economics education workshop.
Teaching materials workshop.
Theater workshop.
Debate and forensics workshop.
Radio and TV workshop.
Creative dramatics workshop.
Children's Theater.
Thirteenth annual music clinic.
Piano teachers' clinic.
Workshop on teaching marriage
and family relationships in high
school.
Press photography workshop.
Reporting and editing workshop.
High school publications workshop
(June 3-8).
Art workshop.
Spanish workshop.
• Distinguished Faculty — Nationally
famous teachers will visit to aug-
ment able and adequate resident
faculty. Visiting artists also teach.
• Devotionals and Lectures — Church
General Authorities, religious
scholars, and experts in many fields
speak in outstanding BYU assem-
blies.
• Culture — Thrilling, summer-long
series of concerts by finest artists
in music, drama, dance. Paganini
Quartet will be featured again this
year with other artists.
• Recreation — Full program of out-
ings, dances, athletics, and the
scenic Wasatch Mountains near at
hand for brief trips. The Timpano-
gos Hike in July is the experience
of a lifetime.
• Advancement Opportunities— Many
students now finish college in less
than four years by taking advan-
tage of Summer School. Teachers
will find many special helps for
certification and outstanding work-
shops and clinics (see accompany-
ing list).
• Leadership Week — During week of
June 24-28, hundreds of experts
in many fields will lecture, Church
leaders will speak, and many ex-
hibits and films will be presented,
for the improvement of family and
church life.
FIRST TERM:
June 10 — July 12
SECOND TERM:
July 15 — Aug. 16
CLIP AND MAIL
To: Director of Summer School
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
Please send me free of charge your Summer
School catalog.
Name
Address
I am especially interested in
267
"Nephites" Found in New Mexico
(Continued from preceding page)
the spring it is uncovered and the
earth leveled. This is an immense
work. They have also many apple,
pear, and peach orchards, all ripe, as
well as grapes. Isletas is occupied
only by the Nephites themselves.
There are no Mexicans or white men.
The houses generally are made of
adobe, cement, or concrete, and plas-
tered. The outside walls are as white
as snow, and the floors are made of
mortar or plaster, very smooth and
many of them very neatly carpeted.
We saw some as handsome women
and girls as could be found in Amer-
ica, barring their dark complexions.
There is one practice that exceeds
that of any civilized city on the globe
that I ever heard of. No man, woman,
or child is allowed to sweep a particle
of dirt or dust from the floors into
the dooryards or streets, under pen-
alty of a fine. It all has to be gath-
ered in cloths or baskets and carried
to mounds which are located in dif-
ferent parts of the city. The room we
occupied was in the center of the
town, and the mound formed from
the sweepings of the floors in that
part of the town measured 150 yards
at the base and some thirty feet high,
which had probably been 100 years
in collecting, for they did not ap-
pear to cart it away. I found in the
Isletas and in other villages of the
Nephites the same kind of crockery
and stone was painted in all its
brilliant colors that we find in the
remains of their ancient cities or in
ruins of the ancient inhabitants. All
of their water jugs and main crockery
are of this material, for they still hold
the art of making and painting it.
We visited quite a number of the
families in the village and were kind-
ly entertained. Among others, we
visited Mrs. Pascual Avieta, a Nephite
lady, I should judge 50 years of age,
a large portly woman, with a large,
fine home. Her floors were neatly
carpeted, and settees were covered
with Navajo blankets, worth $15
each. She was neatly dressed. I
was introduced to her by Brother
Tenney and to her daughters and
sons. She received me and treated
me with all the cordiality that any
refined lady could, and presided over
her household with all the dignity and
grace of a Martha Washington. When
her daughters were introduced to me,
after bowing and shaking hands, they
very reservedly and modestly retired
across the room, sat down upon a
settee and listened in silence to what
was said. The matron sat down be-
side me and conversed with great
freedom. While the family could
speak good Spanish, the son, a fine
young man of 20, could speak good
English, which was a godsend to me,
and I thoroughly improved it by
preaching the gospel of Christ and
blessings of the kingdom of God to
him, which he gladly received and
promised to deliver the same to his
father and mother. The matron in-
vited us into her pear, peach, and
apple orchard, and grape vineyard
where fruit was ripe. We feasted to
our satisfaction, and repeated by in-
vitation the same ceremony each day
while in Isletas. The feast was on
the 27th of August. There were
hundreds of Mexicans from all the
surrounding country gathered. The
Mexican women and girls had their
long trains. Most of the drinking,
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THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
gambling, and fighting, which lasted
all night, was done by the Mexicans,
while the Isletas were in their homes
with doors locked at an early hour.
The Governor and leading men of
Mosita Negra, where we preached,
were with us and did not take part
in the Mexican carousal.
Thus, dear brethren, I have given
you an outline, merely, of the field
of labor which I consider the God of
Israel has opened up to us and which
I consider the revelations of God re-
quire us to perform. I think there
is element sufficient for forty good,
faithful elders. There is need for a
goodly number of elders who can
speak the Spanish language or who
will be able to learn it. I have al-
ready sent Brother Taylor a small
list of names, including the Indian
missionaries that are already in this
country, as far as I can remember
them, and if there are any in St.
George or Southern Utah, northern,
who can speak the Spanish, or who
will learn it, I would like Brother
Taylor to consider them at the Octo-
ber conference.
I am happy to be able to state
that most of the settlements I have
visited of the Saints have been blessed
with fair crops of grain, notwithstand-
ing the dry season. They were just
finishing threshing as I left Snow-
flake. They will have over 3,000
bushels of grain, mostly wheat, and
I am confident they will have over
4,000 bushels of wheat at Sunset. * * *
Your brother in the gospel,
Wilford Woodruff
Arthur Elijah Morgan
(Continued from page 252)
spent, he recalls barely gasping, "This
is the night; I want baptism now,
fetch your lantern." When the eld-
ers had dressed Elijah felt sufficiently
rested to go to the creek where, as
the first rays of dawn appeared on
July 18, 1896, he was baptized. Elijah
was the only Latter-day Saint to be
found for miles around.
"Ot" was Elijah's
became "Ot, the
appellation Elijah
great deal of pride
tinguished it when,
hurled at him, he
(Continued
APRIL 1957
nickname; it now
Mormon." This
accepted with a
and further dis-
despite the barbs
often plucked his
on following page)
Someone
you know
would like an
Yo
this Easter
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Arthur Elijah Morgan
(Continued from preceding page)
bombastic friends out of the gutter
on a Saturday night. Their "payday"
gone, it was "Ot, the Mormon" who
put food in the mouths of their hun-
gry children. In moments of sober-
ness, even the derelict, ignorant of the
Biblical terminology of Peter, realized
that "Ot, the Mormon" was indeed
a "peculiar" person, doer of good
works.
Elijah has the reputation of never
having turned a stranger from his
door. One incident over which he
chuckles occurred after he had given
a night's lodging to a bibulous hobo.
Elijah saw the ungrateful character
snatch a book from the shelf by the
door as he was leaving, but let him
"get away with it" because he had
another Book of Mormon! He wishes
he could have observed the culprit's
reaction as he settled in the jungle
under the B & O trestle to read. Of
course Elijah hopes he did read.
One day, Elijah recalls, he was
digging a ditch when two men ap-
proached on foot and asked if he
knew where A. E. Morgan could be
found. Elijah, with a frugality of
words characteristic of the mountain
folk, leaned on his shovel, looked
them over, and pointed to a nearby
cabin. "Go to that house and wash
up. Dinner'll be ready directly." The
startled strangers managed to say,
"But you don't know who wc are,
how can you — ?" "I know who you
are," interrupted Elijah, "you're Mor-
mon elders, and I'm A. E. Morgan."
At the time this incident took place,
Elijah had not seen a missionary in
seventeen years!
Because of the faith and courage
of one man, the mission organized a
Sunday School with Elijah as super-
intendent. This was a fruitful ven-
ture, and many came to a knowledge
of the truth as a result thereof, his
mother-in-law being his first convert.
"Those were the good old days,"
Elijah sighs, "when folk hereabouts
honored the Sabbath." That they
did so by attending church is sub-
stantiated by two pictures, the only
pictures to adorn the walls of his
home, showing Sunday School groups:
Boys in knee pants, girls with pig-
tails, mothers in their Sunday best
with leg-o'mutton sleeves, and fathers
with derbies and stout boots. In the
background stands the mustachioed
Elijah, straight and stalwart, always
the leader.
One Sunday morning Elijah was a
little late, and decided to save some
time by taking the short-cut across
the "crick" which was frozen over.
Unfortunately, the ice broke and he
was plunged into the water up to
his armpits. Never one to turn back,
a very wet and cold Elijah made it
to Sunday School on time. He re-
ports this experience didn't even re-
sult in a sniffle!
In those days, Elijah says, the mis-
sionaries were often without means
of support. Sometimes they went two
or three days without eating as they
tramped through the sparsely -settled
country. If they were not received
at a farmhouse, they would have to
travel on, tired and hungry. When
they found a friendly family who of-
fered hospitality, they usually re-
mained two or three days, preaching
and instructing. They helped the
farmer with his planting or haying
and helped the farm wife split wood,
carry water, and do chores in general.
Louisa loved the missionaries and
was kind and generous, but unlike
her husband and her mother, she nev-
er accepted baptism, nor would she
allow the children to do so. The
very fact that she forbade the children
to read their father's books seemed to
stimulate that desire. As soon as
they were "on their own" they read,
and they listened to the counsel of
their father. That he built well is
indicated by the vast knowledge his
sons and daughter have of the gospel
despite the fact that they had scant
opportunity to attend church and
mingle with others of like belief. It
must have been a source of great joy
to Elijah, when he was appointed
superintendent of the first LDS Sun-
day School in these parts, to have his
two sons function as first and second
counselors.
Louisa died in 1924 and the fol-
lowing year Elijah married Mrs.
Tillie Ingold, a widow. She died ten
years later and Elijah subsequently
married Mrs. Agnes Dunlap, a widow
with seven children. Both of these
women accepted the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Agnes died on September 30,
1953, and since that time Elijah, by
his own preference, has lived alone
in his hillside cabin.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
The years took their toll. Many
members of the "first" Sunday School
died; many moved away; some were
weak in the faith and not able to
hold fast ynder adversity; the two
counselor-sons found it necessary to
seek work elsewhere to cope with the
depression. The building which had
housed the Sunday School was sold;
war came; and the missionaries were
recalled. These events marked the
collapse of the heroic effort begun by
one man with vision and courage.
After a period of some ten years of
inactivity, the East Central States
Mission, then under the direction of
the late President Cornelius Zappey,
the "Beloved Dutchman," again
opened the district and a Sunday
School was organized in November
1954.
Although Elijah has been able to
attend only once, he is enthusiastic
about the progress being made. No
longer able to contribute time and
talent, he has offered of his substance.
He wishes to donate a plot of ground
for the erecting of a chapel. Quoting
Acts 2:17, "And it shall come to pass
in the last days, saith God, I will
pour out my spirit upon all flesh . . .
and your young men shall see vi-
sions, and your old men shall dream
dreams," he adds, "A chapel in New
Martinsville is my dream." This
project is currently under advisement.
When asked if he still has a testi-
mony of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
Elijah, sitting erect in his high-backed
rocker, struck his fist to his knee and
spoke with authority, "I have. I wish
I were able to go out and proclaim
it. I would like to go to Moundsville
to the State Penitentiary and talk to
the men there; I will always believe
there is hope for mankind. But they
tell me I'm too old."
Asked how he felt about Joseph
Smith, whom his first wife would
not accept as a prophet, Elijah quoted
Amos 3:7 verbatim, "'Surely the
Lord God will do nothing, but he
revealeth his secret unto his servants
the prophets!' Joseph Smith? Of
course he was a prophet!"
Today, despite his physical frailty,
he stands a bulwark of integrity, re-
spected and loved by a community
with no penchant for coddling. Truly,
Arthur Elijah Morgan, no longer
nicknamed "Ot, the Mormon," has
earned by precept and example the
respect of all who know him.
APRIL 1957
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Melchizedek Priesthood
A RELIGION OF ACTION
Sir Wilford Grenfell once made
an appeal for "a religion of ac-
tion, not diction." This is a com-
mon need. There is a great tendency
among us to become what someone
has called "Bible Christians." That
is where the religion is mostly in the
Bible and not enough in us. What
we need is to "translate" our creed
into deed, our information into know-
how, our faith into works. We need
to know how to get the religion out
of the Bible and into us.
For one who applies himself, it is
not difficult to "understand" the prin-
ciples of the gospel. But our big
problem is that of "translation" and
"application." Our works should
catch up to our words. We need the
ability to live the gospel as well as
we understand it. We need to de-
velop the power to get our Church
work done on our own initiative with-
out the necessity of being told or
urged by someone else.
A colored farmer was hiring a
worker. His one question was, "How
many tellings do you take?" When
we require too many tellings, our
salvation is placed in jeopardy. We
need to develop that spiritual initia-
tive where we can do "many things
of our own free will." In fact, a
genius has been described as one who
can get the job done without being
told more than three times.
The work of the Lord does not con-
sist merely of giving out information;
it is rather to arouse desire and pro-
duce activity. The purpose of the
gospel is not merely to discuss re-
pentance, but to bring about a refor-
mation of life; not merely to teach
the meaning of faith, but to produce
faith in the lives of people. Those
bearing the priesthood are not ex-
pected merely to understand the avail-
able power of God, but t® manifest
that power in their lives by effectively
272
doing the Lord's will and the Lord's
work. It may be that we spend too
large a part of our time discussing
religion and too little time in actual
performance. It is our responsibility
actually to develop in people's lives
the attitudes and activities that will
get them into the celestial kingdom.
Sermons should be concerned not
only with subjects to be explained,
but also with a way of life to be
lived. It is so easy to preach about
moral courage without making any-
one morally courageous. It is easy
to deliver a discourse on faith, with-
out creating faith in people's lives.
We may teach that man has the
power to decide his own eternal des-
tiny, without getting anyone then and
there to make that momentous deci-
sion.
Socrates, the ancient Grecian phi-
losopher, is remembered, not because
he claimed to be a great teacher but
because he tried to get people to do
those things which they already knew.
The discord between deed and creed
is responsible for innumerable wrongs
in our civilization. It gives both in-
stitutions and men split personalities.
It is estimated that there are 999
men who "believe" in honesty for
every honest man. Therefore, instead
of merely teaching honesty, Socrates
tried to get men to be honest. How
can one believe in honesty who is not
honest? Or how can anyone believe
in religion if he fails to manifest it
in his life? Only those who are val-
iant will inherit the celestial kingdom.
That means "a religion of action."
The practical aspects of this situa-
tion have been pointed out by one
who said that it may not be impor-
tant whether or not a man has been
through college, provided college has
been through the man. Similarly,
to get a man into the "kingdom of
God" has many benefits, but to get
"the kingdom of God" into the man
is when things really begin to hap-
pen. This can best be done by the
appropriate activity.
Some people ask God to direct their
footsteps, and then they fail to move
their feet. What good does it do to ask
God to direct our efforts if we then
turn off our engines? How much is
accomplished when we sustain the
President of the Church with our up-
lifted hands, if we fail to sustain him
with our industry and our courage?
History records many periods of
"apostasy from the faith," But we
should not overlook those tendencies
to personal, individual apostasies of
works, or apostasies of effort. When
we have a period of inactivity, the
spirit of accomplishment tends to be-
come limp and apathetic. Then, like
a weak heart, its beat gets so faint
that. its pulse cannot be counted.
Think of the activity the Lord has
provided for us. Every boy has the
opportunity to hold the priesthood
and function therein at age twelve.
Beginning with the deacons, each
quorum has its own officers and con-
ducts its own activities on a scale of
its own choice. The Lord has given
to each group a certain part of the
work of the Church. A deacon has
his own responsibilities. When he is
ordained a teacher, his field of serv-
ice is enlarged. He is then entitled
to be a ward teacher, "to watch over
the Church," "to strengthen the
members," "to see that there is no
iniquity in the Church." (See D & C
20:53-54.) When he becomes a
priest, his duties are again increased.
He may now baptize for the remis-
sion of sins in the name of the Lord.
He may administer the Sacrament
and accept a larger field for preach-
ing the gospel. As he grows in faith,
other opportunities are given to him.
Every worthy man and boy above
age twelve may bear the priesthood
and share in the divine ministry of
activity. Think of our advantage as
compared with some other groups
where one or two people have most of
the activity!
We need to s.tir up our enthusiasm
and make sure that we are "doers of
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
the word" in its fullest sense. We
need to do more than "believe" in
that light "that lighteth every man
that cometh into the world." We
need to make that light bright by use
and thereby make our lives luminous. -
We should have a religion of action,
but we should also be men of action.
Alexander the Great said, "What
Aristotle is in the world of thought,
I will be in the world of action," and
that formula made him the conqueror
of the world by the time he was
twenty-six years of age, and it will
make us anything we wish to be, in-
cluding conquerors of our own weak-
nesses and winners of the celestial
kingdom.
A violinist of great distinction once
acquired a valuable Stradivarius, but
this violin had been in the private
collection of a wealthy family and
for many years had lain unused on a
velvet pad. The violinist said, "The
violin is asleep, and I must play it
until I wake it up and bring it to its
proper form. It will have to learn
its own power and beauty all over
again."
Disuse is harmful to a violin; it is
also harmful to a child of God. We
should awaken ourselves by use, so
that we can get full possession of and
full benefit from that great potential
of power and beauty that God has
implanted in our lives. This can be
done only by proper activity.
Jesus said, "If ye know these things,
happy are ye if ye do them." (John
13:17.) Inactivity is wrong, for "to
him that knoweth to do good, and
doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James
4:17.) This great sin of "disuse" may
cause many to lose their exaltation.
Few will lose their blessings because
they cannot know. Many will lose
their blessings because they will not
do.
Even testimony and faith come
from works; for Jesus said, "If ye shall
do my will, ye shall know of the doc-
trine." (See John 7:17.) And if we
don't give the gospel message to
others, we risk losing it ourselves, for
great faith, like great fortune, never
lingers in hands with idle fingers.
Spiritual powers are like the muscles
of the arm; either we use them or lose
them. When works dwindle, faith
dries up; accomplishment withers;
and blessings are lost. People soon
begin to suffer from feelings of frus-
tration and inferiority when they
bury their talents. Such feelings rob
us of our strength. They sap our
energy and diminish our spiritual
values.
How pathetic it is that anyone
should needlessly tolerate this destruc-
tive, devastating inactivity which
leads us even to doubt ourselves.
To disbelieve in God is tragic, but
to have this destructive disbelief in
ourselves may be even worse. The
moving cause of all action is faith,
not only faith in God but also faith
in ourselves, neither of which is pos-
sible in the absence of works, and
both of which must be earned in ad-
vance. We get belief by action and
disbelief by inaction. When self-
doubt and self-distrust get lodged in
our minds, they discolor every
thought and every activity with a
feeling of inadequacy and hopeless-
ness. We sometimes use our minds
as dumping grounds for doubts, fears,
worries, sins, and complexes, causing
destructive mental attitudes and fail-
ure. Many of these and others of the
greatest sins begin as sins of inaction.
Everyone, in a sense, must be his
own priest. Everyone must purify his
own life. Every man must do his
own growing. Everyone must create
his 'own desire to serve. Everyone
must be responsible for saving his
own soul. Everyone must be respon-
sible for making the most of every op-
portunity. The grand recipe for
success is to make our religion "a
religion of action, not diction."
Liz and the Picnic
(Concluded from page 246)
the back of her hand, "You're free,
big boy! Now let me look at that
foot." Deftly her fingers searched the
paw and slender leg. "Pretty sore?
But there's nothing broken."
"Hey, get away from that dog. He
doesn't like strangers. Darbo, come
here. How did you get out of the
kennel?" Brad Kimberly squeezed
in between Liz and the dog. "How
did you get so close to him?"
"His foot was caught under this
log," she was irked by his tone, "and
I've been around dogs before."
"I guess you have," he turned and
looked at her. "I've never seen Dar-
bo make friends before."
"My dad says I have a way with
dogs. We have three." The irked
feeling began to disappear as an ap-
preciative smile spread across his
face. "Darbo is lucky his leg isn't
broken."
APRIL 1957
"Darbo is lucky you came along,"
he said. "Are you with the picnic?"
He held out his hand to help her
up. "I'm Brad Kimberly."
A picture of him skimming across
the lake in his clipper flashed before
her, and suddenly her tongue was
clinging to the roof of her mouth. At
least he didn't remember her and the
archery match this morning.
She stared at the hand. Stand up?
No! her heart cried out. But he
helped her. Up — up — UP she went,
a full two inches over him. Her face
burned; an urgency to run filled her.
"Your name?" he asked again.
What difference did her name
make? All he really wanted now
would be to get away as fast as pos-
sible before someone saw them to-
gether. This bronze boy with the
broad shoulders would have the same
kind of pride as she!
He cocked his head to one side
and grinned amiably, "It makes a
difference?" He touched the top of
her head lightly with an index finger,
"Somehow I had the feeling you'd
measure a fellow's worth by the two
feet he has on the ground not the
ones above it. But if it helps any,
my dad was a REAL runt before he
was eighteen. I come from a long
line of runts before eighteen!"
She grinned, a sudden warm grin
that came all the way from her toes.
Here was the friendship she'd been
searching for, a friendship with sym-
pathy and understanding, and it
would never be measured by height
or breadth but by the depth of feel-
ing.
"My name is Elizabeth Kay Ben-
nett, but my friends call me Liz," she
said softly and glowed inwardly.
Mom had been right! Boys were hu-
man beings if you'd give them half a
chance!
(The end)
273
m Presiding
Commemoration Program
for Restoration of Aaronic Priesthood
Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and
19, 1957, have been designated by
the Presiding Bishopric, with the
approval of the First Presidency, as
the dates for the Church-wide annual
commemoration of the restoration of
the Aaronic Priesthood.
On May 15, 1829, the resurrected
John the Baptist appeared to Joseph
Smith and Oliver Cowdery as they
kneeled in prayer on the banks of the
Susquehanna River near Harmony,
Pennsylvania.
It was a great day and a glorious
event. For centuries the world had
languished in spiritual darkness. The
kingdom of God was not upon the
earth. The priesthood with its power
to perform the ordinances of the gos-
pel of Jesus Christ had been lost to
the world for hundreds of years. The
two young men, while translating the
Book of Mormon, desired clarification
on certain passages and so retired to
a beautiful, secluded spot on the river
bank for meditation and to inquire
of the Lord.
The heavenly visitor appeared to
them. He laid his hands upon their
heads and thus restored the Aaronic
Priesthood to the earth.
This great event in the history of
the world should be commemorated
with sincerity and dignity by all mem-
bers of the Church and more particu-
larly those who are bearers of the
Aaronic Priesthood.
On Saturday, May 18, we suggest
an outdoor activity program for all
Aaronic Priesthood bearers and their
leaders. We suggest, too, that al-
though the program may be recrea-
tional in nature, a few minutes be set
aside for inspiration and reflection.
A short talk on the restoration or
significance of the priesthood would
be well in order. The activities and
program should be under close super-
vision.
Where a pilgrimage to some point
of interest is decided upon, we sug-
274
Presiding Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin with his counselors Bishop Thorpe B.
Isaacson and Bishop Carl W. Buehner watch while Sculptor Avard Fairbanks
puts finishing touches on memorial monument prior to having it cast in
bronze.
The monument depicting the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood was
made possible by the contributions of Aaronic Priesthood bearers throughout
the Church. When completed it will stand on Temple Square. The unveil-
ing and dedication program will be announced by the Presiding Bishopric at
a later time.
gest that travel in caravan style be
discouraged because of the added haz-
ards it brings to highway travel.
Where it is impractical to hold this
outing on a stake basis, we encourage
wards to arrange such a program for
their own people.
It is our recommendation that the
outing be held for both senior mem-
bers and Aaronic Priesthood under 21
on a co-operative basis. Where this
is done, both stake committees should
counsel together and plan for the in-
terests of all.
Where it is desired, however, sep-
arate outings for senior members and
Aaronic Priesthood under 21 may be
planned.
»
Sacrament Meeting Program
May 19, 1957
Theme — My Obligations and Bless-
ings as an Aaronic Priesthood Bearer.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Bishoprics Page
The ward Sacrament meeting pro-
gram should be devoted to the com-
memoration of the restoration of the
Aaronic Priesthood in our dispensa-
tion. Where stake quarterly confer-
ences are scheduled for May 19, this
commemoration program should be
held on the preceding or succeeding
Sunday.
We urge that, where practical, a
chorus of either senior or Aaronic
Priesthood members under 21 be or-
ganized and prepared to furnish the
special musical numbers of the pro-
gram. The musical numbers listed
are mere suggestions. They may be
substituted or adapted to smaller
groups if desired.
Interest in the program will be in-
creased if Aaronic Priesthood mem-
bers are used wherever possible.
Where substitutions in songs are
made, care should be given to choose
music appropriate to the occasion.
All assignments should be made to
allow time for training and adequate
preparation.
The following procedure we sug-
gest be followed as closely as possible:
1. Opening song — congregation —
"Praise to the Man"
2. Invocation — A senior member
3. Sacrament song
4. Administration of the Sacrament
by members of the Aaronic
Priesthood
5. Aaronic Priesthood chorus or
quartet — "See the Mighty Angel
Flying"
6. Talk by a deacon — "Two Young
Men Receive the Aaronic Priest-
hood Keys from a Heavenly
Messenger"
7. Talk by an ordained teacher —
"Being Morally Clean is a Re-
sponsibility of All Who Hold the
Aaronic Priesthood"
8. Talk by a priest— "Aaronic
Priesthood Bearers Should Live
the Laws of Health"
9. Talk by a senior member —
"Priesthood Places upon Each
One Who Bears It an Obligation
to Serve His Fellow Men"
10. Chorus or quartet — "School Thy
Feelings"
APRIL 1957
Study Guide for Ward Teachers
April 1957
Your House in Order
We are lwing in a world of uncertainty. What the future holds for any
of us we cannot foresee. Life itself is uncertain. How long we are to
retain it no one knows. The part of wisdom indicates that we should be
prepared at all times as far as we can be for any condition which may con-
front us. Our houses should be in order.
Three considerations seem pertinent in this connection:
1. Is your house in order spiritually? Do you and the members of your
family observe the spiritual laws of the Church? Do you have family prayer?
Is the blessing on the food asked regularly? Do the members of your family
attend Sacrament meeting? Do those who hold the priesthood attend quo-
rum meetings regularly and discharge their duties? In these and other ways
are you growing and developing spiritually and following the command-
ments of the Lord?
2. Is your house in order physically? Is your home well-kept? Is it
attractive to the members of your family? Is it as comfortable and convenient
as your means will reasonably permit? Is it really a home as well as a
house? Is it so arranged and maintained that the health of your family is
protected? Do the members of your family observe the laws of health and
preserve their bodies from avoidable illness or accident? Is the Word of
Wisdom respected as the word of the Lord to his people and as a divine
law of health?
3. Is your house in-order financially? Are you living within your means?
Are you putting yourself in line for the blessings the Lord has promised by
the payment of tithing? Are you carefully considering the advice of the
General Authorities before going into debt for things not actually necessary?
If you are now in debt are you making every possible effort to free yourself
of it? Are you sharing with your neighbor, if and when you are able?
Note: It is not intended that these questions should be asked of the
families visited with the idea that they should be answered to the teachers.
Neither is it intended that the teachers should pry into the private affairs
of those visited. The purpose suggested is to call attention to the questions,
by reading them if desired, and then leave the suggestion that each family
give serious consideration to them in their own way. The principal purpose
is to start each family thinking seriously of the question, "Is my house in
order?"
INTRODUCTION OF STUDY GUIDE FOR MAY 1957
The Privilege oF Paying Tithing
It is a privilege to pay tithing. Those who pay tithing participate in the build-
ing of Zion, the development of the Church, the erection of temples and other
Church buildings, and in carrying the gospel message to the ends of the earth.
When tithing is paid, all who are involved in the transaction are blessed. Tithing
is God's law of revenue for the Church.
11. Talk — General secretary of the
senior members of the Aaronic
Priesthood— "Those Who Bear
the Aaronic Priesthood should 13.
Study the Doctrine and Cove-
nants"
12. Talk — general secretary of the 14.
Aaronic Priesthood under 21 —
"The Aaronic Priesthood Pre- 15.
pares Men for the Responsi-
bilities of the Melchizedek
Priesthood"
Talk— by the bishop — "The
Oath and Covenant of the
Priesthood" (D & C 84:32-41.)
Closing song — "Shall the Youth
of Zion Falter?"
Benediction — priest under 21
275
Eileen Gibbons
Editor
Be Showin? Wise
When You Buy Egg.
s
ance and fine flavor are especially ap-
preciated for poaching, frying, and
cooking in the shell.
Grades B and C are also good eggs
and have dozens of uses in which ap-
pearance and delicate flavor are not
so important. In these two qualities
the white is thinner, so that the eggs
spread over a wide area when broken.
The yolk is almost flat and may break
easily.
These lower grade eggs are very
satisfactory for scrambling, for use in
baking, in thickening sauces and salad
dressings, and in combination with
other foods, such as cream sauce, to-
matoes, cheese, or onions.
by Norma Burnbam
When the wise homemaker makes
out her weekly shopping list,
eggs are always near the top.
A good buy at almost any price, this
rpo make your egg dollar go farther,
-*- choose eggs of various grades ac-
cording to the use you intend to make
of them. There is usually a price
follow the federal standards closely. difference of several cents a dozen be-
Some commercial firms grade on their tween the grades of one size,
own standards and identify different If you buy ungraded eggs from bulk
qualities with brand names, rather displays or in cartons carrying such
Egg covers small area; much thick whrte surrounds
yolk; has small amount of thin white; yolk round
and upstanding.
AA
versatile food is a bargain when you than using letters to show the grades, terms as "select," "best," or "fresh,
consider how little you pay for so Grades AA and A are top quality, you must depend entirely on the
much food value. with a large proportion of thick white dealer for assurance of quality. The
Because they contain the same which stands up well around a firm eggs may or may not be the top
high-quality, complete protein found high yolk. These eggs are good for quality that these names imply.
in lean meats, eggs may be used as all uses, but the upstanding appear- The size of eggs also influences the
a meat substitute. Two large -size
eggs furnish about the same amount
of protein as an average serving of
meat. Iron, phosphorous, and cal-
cium, minerals valuable for building
and maintaining strong healthy bod-
ies, are also present in important
amounts. Vitamins A and D, as well
as three B vitamins, are other essen-
tial nutrients contained in eggs.
Plan a variety of ways for your
family to enjoy eggs — in baking, main
dishes, salads, and desserts. The egg
is equally at home in all these uses.
In some markets there is a wide se-
lection of grade, size, and even shell
color. Since the egg comes in its own
natural package and cannot be ex-
amined before purchase, you must
rely on other quality guides. The
tips that follow will help you get a
good buy every time you shop for
eggs.
The grade is your best guide to
quality. Many states use the four
consumer grades for eggs — US Grade
AA, US Grade A, US Grade B, and
US Grade C. Each grade refers to
a specific quality, defined by govern-
ment standards.
Some states have set up their own
grading systems, and in general they
>*■
\^\M\i\\:/::\-:-^>^
-- — ~-~-
A Egg covers moderate area;
xi. white; medium amount of
and upstanding.
has considerable thick
thin white; yolk round
Egg covers wide area; has small amount of thick
white; much thin white; yolk somewhat flattened
and enlarged.
B
*Miss Burnham is an agent for Consumer Market-
ing Information, Utah State Agricultural College Ex-
tension Service.
276
CEgg covers very wide area; has no thick white; large
amount of thin white thinly spread; yolk very flat
and enlarged.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
JLt last/ JL different, new tuna dish, for Lent
Poached eggs and chicken livers.
AA and A grade eggs are ideal for
poaching.
price but does not have any relation
to the quality. Sometimes large eggs
are your best buy — sometimes small
or medium ones. Late summer and
early fall, when the hens first begin
to lay, usually bring large supplies
of small sizes. Later on, medium size
eggs become plentiful. By December
or January and through the spring,
large eggs hold the spotlight.
One way to determine which size
is a better buy at any particular time
is to figure how much you are paying
by weight, since the size of eggs is
determined by number of ounces a
dozen. Minimum weights for the
most common sizes are:
Size
Minimum Weight
Extra large
27 Ounces
Large
24 Ounces
Medium
21 Ounces
Small
18 Ounces
HThe following easy "rule of thumb"
-*- can usually be applied in com-
paring prices on different size eggs:
Medium eggs, in order to be a better
buy than large ones, must be at least
nine cents a dozen less. Similarly,
the price of small eggs must be at
least nine cents a dozen less than
medium ones to make the small ones
the better buy. The table following
shows the exact price for a dozen
at which small, medium, and large
eggs would be equally good buys, and
is a more accurate guide. Remember,
when comparing prices by size be sure
you are also comparing the same
grade.
In some areas there is a special
preference for either brown or white
eggs; the ones in least demand are
(Concluded on following page)
APRIL 1957
•HigL Hot TUNA SOUFFLE
Makes 4 servings
Scald V2 cup milk
Stir in 2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
14 cup shortening
Cool to lukewarm.
Measure into bowl . . . Va cup warm (not
hot) water
(Cool to lukewarm for compressed yeast.)
Sprinkle or crumble in 1 package
or cake Fleischmann's Yeast,
active dry or compressed.
Stir until dissolved.
Add lukewarm milk mixture
Add 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 cup sifted enriched Hour
Beat until smooth, about 1 minute.
Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from
draft, until doubled in bulk, about 40
minutes.
In 1 -quart casserole,
combine 1 can cream ot
celery soup
1 7-ounce can tuna, drained
1 teaspoon grated onion
1 tablespoon chopped pimiento
Beat until stiff but not dry 2 egg whites
Stir batter down and fold in
beaten egg whites.
Spoon batter on top of creamed tuna.
Bake at 400 degrees (hot oven) 40 to
45 minutes.
Creamy tuna and fluffy topping-
with flavor only Yeast can give
"I take my hat off to this Lenten souffle," says Mrs.
Kenneth Gardner, prize-winning cook of Clearfield,
Utah. "It has a 'company' look, yet High-Hat Souffle
is a practical Main Dish— hearty, filling, easy.
"Why don't you serve High-Hat Tuna Souffle? A
delicious dish for Lenten meals or any spring day.
The secret's Fleischmann's Yeast— use the cake yeast
or the handy dry kind that keeps for months. It's
fast and easy — the choice of prize-winning cooks."
Get the dry
yeast in the new
"Triple -Fresh" pack
Recipes for other main dishes
(pizza, too!) on the back of every
"Thrifty Three." Look for them when
you buy Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast.
Another Fine Product of Standard Brands Inc.
277
UNIVERSAL
TRAVEL SERVICE
PRESENTS . . .
* EUROPE— University of Utah conducted
tour visiting musical festivals and art centers,
conducted by Louis Booth and George Dibble.
73 days. $1285.00.
* SCANDINAVIA— Spring Air Cruise
offering a visit to all the Scandinavian Coun-
tries and a side trip to the Bern Temple.
$700.00.
* NEW YORK— One week Fine Arts
tour conducted by Douglas Snow of the U. of
U. faculty.
" HAWAII— A great variety of tours by
air and ship . . . prices and itineraries to
suit your needs.
* SERVICE — For all of your travel needs.
Prepaid travel for your re'atives abroad.
Travel now and pay later plans.
BRING YOUR TRAVEL PROBLEMS TO
UNIVERSAL
TRAVEL SERVICE, INC.
TEMPLE SQUARE HOTEL
Salt Lake City, Utah ELgin 5-6552
' VITAMINS
MINERALS
Drink them in
Tfatunat
delicious juice form — use a
SWEDEN Speed JUICER
Whatever your age, there are
natural nutrients for you in
the fresh-made juices of car-
rots, celery, apples, cabbage,
etc. Enjoy their true natural
goodness, delicious flavor with
a Sweden Speed Juicer. Fully
guaranteed. An ideal gift.
Juice in seconds.
Easy to operate-
Easy to clean.
U.L.. a C.S.A
APPROVED
At leading depart-
ment, appliance
and health-food
stores, or write for
free folder.
CW€D€IM
^ SPEED JUICER
PAT. NO. 2297880
OTHERS PENDING
® ^"^^"^"^ SWEDEN FREEZER MFG. CO.
DEPT. JI-4 JUICER DIVISION • SEATTLE 99, WASH.
278
Be Shopping Wise When You Buy Eggs
can
(Concluded from preceding page)
usually the best value. This
mean bargains for the careful shopper
because she knows that flavor, qual-
ity, and nutritive value are not
affected by shell color.
Eggs need care if they are to keep
their good quality — and this means
all the way from the hen to the
kitchen. A cool temperature is espe-
cially important because an egg will
lose as much quality in three days at
room temperature as it does in two
weeks in a refrigerator. Check the
store where you buy eggs and be sure
that quality is protected by a cool
temperature. Both the eggs on dis-
play and behind-the-scenes should be
kept refrigerated.
You can maintain egg quality by
keeping eggs cool and covered, with
the small end down to keep the air
space at the top in position and the
yolk centered. And remove from the
refrigerator only the number of eggs
to be used. Eggs should not be washed
until you are ready to use them, as
washing removes a protective film
called "bloom" which is on the egg
when it is laid. This film seals the
pores and keeps out bacteria and
odors.
The best quality egg can be ruined
if it is not properly cooked. Whether
you like your eggs soft or hard,
poached or fried, alone or combined
with other foods, remember this firm
and fast rule — cook them at a low
temperature. Too much heat or too
long a cooking time makes them
tough and leathery.
High temperatures not only tough-
en eggs, but may also cause dishes
leavened with eggs to fall, the crust
to be thick and tough, and the inside
to be heavy and soggy. At high
temperatures, egg dishes such as
custards and sauces will curdle or
water. When cooking eggs in the
shell, the water should simmer — but
never come to a boil. This keeps the
egg tender and prevents formation of
the dark ring that sometimes appears
between the yolk and white of a hard
cooked egg.
Here are some delicious and easy ways
to use eggs after you have bought
them. The baked eggs are probably
most satisfactory with top grade eggs,
but lower grades are perfectly accept-
able for making the lemon pudding.
Baked Eggs in Cheese Sauce
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons minced onion
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 cup American cheese, coarsely grated
6 eggs
Cook onion in butter until softened.
Blend in flour and salt, then add milk
gradually and stir constantly until sauce
is thickened and smooth. Add cheese
and stir until melted. Pour sauce into
oiled shallow casserole or baking dish.
Break eggs carefully into casserole. Place
casserole in a shallow pan of water and
bake in moderate oven (about 350° F.)
for 15 minutes or until eggs are firm.
Lemon Sponge Pudding*
Y4 cup sugar
74 cup flour
!/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon melted butter or mar-
garine
Y4 cup lemon juice
/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3 eggs, separated
1/2 cups milk
Mix together sugar and flour. Add
salt, melted butter, lemon juice, and
lemon rind. Beat egg yolks well and
add milk. Combine with sugar mixture.
Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry
and fold into milk mixture. Pour into
oiled custard cups or baking dish. Place
in a shallow pan of hot water. Bake
in a moderate oven (350° F.) 40 to 45
minutes.
*Recipe from Utah State Agricultural College Ex-
tension Service, Bulletin #19l, "Serve Eggs Some
Way Every Day" by Elna Miller, nutritionist.
What Size Eggs Shall I Buy?
Size
Prices Per Dozen
Large (24 oz.)
66
62
59
56
52
48
45
Medium (21 oz.)
58
54
51
49
46
42
39
Small (18 oz.)
50
46
44
42
39
36
34
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
-A Monkmeyer Photo
YOUTH
by Ruth I. J. Devereaux
I
Youth is life! It is spring in all its
resplendent glory. It is adven-
ture personified — daring, seeking,
probing into mysteries.
Youth is tenderness. From its
heart springs love and affection. It
becomes enraptured with beauty and
shuns that which is unsightly.
Youth ascends the summit of en-
thusiasm. It is fervent in its en-
deavors and earnest in its desires for
service.
Yes, youth is a priceless gift — some-
thing to guard, to protect, and to
cherish. Within its hand lies the
hope of today and the dream of to-
morrow; the outcome of the present;
the design of the future!
Nurtured with care and under-
standing, it grows tall and straight
as a young tree reaching heavenward;
neglected and forgotten, it seeks the
lower level for its sustenance, groping
in darkness and confusion.
Youth is God-given, and Godlike
must it remain! Cherish it above
all earthly treasures, and its rewards
will open the gates of eternal happi-
ness, wherein progression walks hand
in hand with youth.
APRIL 1957
\ook\
now you can . . •
1322 COLORS
To Go with Anything in Your Home!
PAINTS
Ct&ttoe^
\SjeMM4AJuL
DIAL YOUR
COLOR SCHEME!
Bennett's color harmony selector
helps you create perfect color schemes
in a minute. Simply start with a color
already in your room — say that of
your draperies. Then turn the dial to
that color. Right before your eyes you
see the harmonizing colors to use for
yourcarpet, furniture, walls. Ask your
Bennett's dealer to show you the Col-
or Harmony Selector. He has 1322
Colorizer Colors to go with anything
in your home!
65 W. 1st South— 21st So. & 2nd West and Bennett's branches
and dealers in the Intermountain area and Southern California
y///////////M^/////
have your children seen A
the Goldfish
he's part of the fun
of family dinner in the
COFFEE SHOP,
Hotel Utah :
Max Carpenter, Manage.
279
FOLDING TABLET
ARM CHAIR
A CHAIR and a DESK in
ONLY 3 INCHES
This versatile chair has found widespread use in
sales conferences, training classes, auxiliary
school rooms, examination rooms, cafeterias,
meeting rooms or as extra chairs and writing
surfaces in offices. The chair can also be used
with the arm folded down out of the way. And,
the amazing thing about this quality built chair
is that it folds to a thickness of only 3'!
Model C2317-ITA
with leatherette seat.
The only folding chair backed
by a 10 YEAR GUARANTEE!
Write for complete information
CLARIN
MANUFACTURING CO.
Dept. 65, 4640 W. Harrison
'Chicago 44, III.
We also sell:
• Heywood-Wakefield Choir
Seating
• Church Pews
• Folding Partitions
• Flannelboards
• Blackboards
• Stage Curtains
• Paper and Janitorial Supplies
• Mimeograph and Ditto Machines
& SUPPLY CDMPANY f
SALT LAKE • OGDEN • IDAHO FALLS
^ Toy R and R Hour
by James W. Phillips
♦ ♦
Children's wanton or careless de-
struction of playthings can often
be curbed through a toy repair
and rehabilitation hour that not only
serves to restore the usefulness of
damaged items but also provides
youngsters with instruction in simple
mechanics and affords an opportunity
for a practical father-child activity.
Twice a month, an hour is set
aside for toy repair at our home, and
all damaged playthings — plus an oc-
casional item or two from Mother's
realm — are spread out on the kitchen
table for reconditioning. Naturally,
some are beyond salvage, but the
majority can be restored to some-
what near their original purpose and
appearance by minor mechanical re-
pairs and a touch of imaginative im-
provising.
In this age of scientific wonders
and complicated gadgets, a child's
toy requiring technical skills beyond
the "know-how" of the average
household handyman will at times
make its way into the rehabilita-
tion sessions, but it is surprising how
a few moments of thought and experi-
mentation simplify the workings of
a cowboy cap gun, a wind-up space
car, or an electrically agitated marble
game. And surprising as it may seem,
even the simplest of father's repairs
enhances a toy's value and appeal —
particularly when the young owner
serves as helper during the restora-
tion.
Our family's toy R & R efforts be-
gan when I awoke to the fact that I
was nickel and diming myself into
bankruptcy shopping the variety
stores in a futile effort to replace toys
sacrificed to the tempers or carelessness
of our two pre-teen sons. When first
broached to them, the boys expressed
little interest in either the idea of
working together or the possibility of
being able again to use broken toys
that had once enjoyed their favor.
However, during the first session they
evidenced great interest in Pop's
meager mechanical abilities and
showed much surprise and satisfaction
over the most amateurish and tem-
porary repairs.
For the second session they scoured
every nook and corner of the house,
yard, and garage and gathered up so
many long-forgotten, broken toys
280
Whether it's toy repair, an emergency carpentry job, or a baseball game,
it's good for Dad and son to do things together.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
that a portion of them had to be de-
ferred to the third session. Now,
months later, toys are not only set
aside to await the repair and rehabili-
tation sessions, but the boys insist on
doing minor repairs themselves.
The most important thing about
this period of transition from total
disinterest and passive co-operation
to eager participation was that the
boys developed the desire to give the
repaired toys proper care and han-
dling. This preferential treatment of
certain toys — like all good habits —
gradually extended to all their play-
things. The toy accident rate in our
house has dropped sharply, and as
fewer broken playthings make their
appearance at the fortnightly R & R
sessions, more time is spent on gen-
eral maintenance and redecorating.
One thing of importance to any
repair and rehabilitation kit is plastic
cement, which will restore to their
original exterior form about sixty per-
cent of the toys that reach the hands
of youngsters. Fractured and shat-
tered toys of non-plastic, non-metal-
lic material can be mended by using
any one of several all-purpose glues
that bind china, wood, leather, and
fabrics. Assorted rubber bands make
ideal clamps to hold parts tightly to-
gether during setting and drying time.
Another must for R & R kits is
liquid solder. Not only will this in-
sure lasting and easy electrical con-
nections for battery or plug-in toys,
but it will aid in repairing the broken
necks and limbs of lead soldiers; and
when carefully "dropped" into place,
it will secure small bolts where nuts
are missing or threads are stripped.
Similarly, plastic wood serves to re-
line screw holes in wooden toys and
is ideal for filling cracks and gouges
and rebuilding missing corners or
surfaces.
An assortment of nuts, bolts, wash-
ers, wood and metal screws, nails,
and brads is needed, as are light
gauge wire, heavy thread, and the new
plastic electrical tape which with its
elasticity serves as the ideal wrapping
for split handles, broken wicker doll
furniture and other binding jobs re-
quiring constant pressure for strength.
As paint covers damaged spots and
repairs, fine sandpaper, small paint
brushes, paint thinner, wiping rags,
and a selection of small jars of enamel
are necessary for a finished job.
Enamel is recommended for toy re-
pair kits as it adheres to plastics as
(Concluded on following page)
APRIL 1957
Improve fresh spring vegetables
with Morning Milk cream sauce
QU»CK -H EASY CREANV SAUCE
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
% teaspoon salt
1 cup rAorning Milk, und«luted
r, qtii in flour and salt. Let
Melt butter in sauc^anj* ^ ^ % of th
bubble one ^.^ Md remaimng
ens. Makes 1 cup.
_ no other form of mil* w
EVAPORATED
MILK
281
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Toy R and R Hour
(Concluded from preceding page)
well as to wood and metal, but the
more artistic repairman may prefer
to use water or oil paints that enable
better color matching and finer de-
tail work.
The number and type of tools nec-
essary for the simple father-offspring
mechanical endeavors demanded by
toy repair and rehabilitation work will
vary, but four basic tools suffice:
needle nose pliers, pocket knife, small
screw driver, and scissors. Other im-
plements that come in handy at times
— particularly for work on smaller
toys — are a nut pick, needles, finger-
nail file, hand drill, and coping saw,
while a fine auxiliary supply of mate-
rial is found in toothpicks, pins, pipe
cleaners, and wheels, springs, and
other parts salvaged from the unre-
pairable toys that occassionally crop
up.
If the toy repair and rehabilitation
hour is to succeed, it must be a co-
operative father-child activity. If the
father whisks damaged toys to his
workshop where he repairs them in
leisurely solitude, or if youngsters are
forbidden to attempt minor repairs
and simple painting because of their
messiness or lack of speed and knowl-
edge, the R & R sessions will die a
sudden death from that old malady
"grown-up-itis." However, if the ses-
sions are handled as joint ventures
in which even Mom is occasionally
asked to assist — not take over — Toy
R & R Hours can aid in the develop-
ment of careful habits, provide prac-
tice in basic mechanical skills, and
provide father and child common
pride in accomplishment.
lo Be a King
(Continued from page 235)
deal with unscrupulous people and
must take steps to learn of their plans.
I shall make an immediate effort to
get a man whom I can trust into
Zebulon's home as a servant. Leban-
ah can keep us informed as to what
goes on in the palace, and my friend,
if my plan succeeds will render the
same service concerning Zebulon's
movements."
David expostulated. "I abhor such
methods."
"Not more than I do," said Elihu.
"But this is a case when the welfare
of an entire people is to be main-
tained."
David had always cultivated the
habit of prompt and decisive action.
As he thoughtfully analyzed Ruth's
character there appeared a blending
of beauty and goodness, a contagious
and sprightly joyousness; but this
exhuberance of spirit was tempered
by exactly the right amount of seri-
ousness to make her an engaging and
delightful companion. Indeed, in his
eyes she was lacking in no desirable
quality.
"What a queen she would make!"
he often exclaimed to himself. "How
dignified and yet how gracious! Her
bearing alone would demand homage
from the proud and win it from the
meek. Ruth, Queen of Judea!" The
idea pleased him, and he thought of
it often.
282
As a result of these meditations his
visit to her home, made on the day
after Herod's banquet, was followed
in rapid succession by many others.
As he was preparing to say good-
bye after one of these visits, Ruth's
dearest friend, Martha, came dancing
merrily into the garden. She stopped
short in some embarrassment upon
seeing that she was interrupting a
farewell, and was about to withdraw
when Ruth called her and presented
the young man to her.
Martha was bubbling over with
mirth. "Now see what your lack of
frankness has done," she said artless-
ly to Ruth. "If you had told me
when you sent word the reason that
you could not make the promised
visit this afternoon, I should not have
thrust myself into such a — such a —
well, to speak plainly, such a de-
lightful scene."
"You are very childish, Martha."
Ruth was blushing furiously, and
David could feel the color rising in
his own cheeks.
"Of course I'm childish, and like
all children I do love color, and I
have not seen such perfect tints in a
long time." And her saucy eyes wan-
dered from one crimson face to the
other.
"Martha is an incessant chatterer,"
Ruth apologized. "She simply can-
not miss an opportunity to tease me.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
And, by the way, she is the niece of
your friend Nicodemus."
"Then I have additional reason for
being pleased to meet you," David re-
sponded.
Martha became momentarily seri-
ous. "You are frequently discussed
in our home by my father and uncle."
"In no unfriendly spirit, I hope."
"Oh, no. Not only are they bitter
against the tetrarch, but they are also
ardent admirers of yours, although in
the beginning they were pledged to
Herod. But speaking of him,"
Martha rambled on, "he seems to be
losing followers every day since you
denounced him so courageously.
What will he do? Of course you can-
not answer, for he doesn't know him-
self, though he can hardly allow such
a rebuke to pass unnoticed. Father
says if the tetrarch dared he would
resort to Herod the Great's favorite
tactic, violence, and at once avenge
the affront and rid himself of a
troublesome opponent."
Ruth was so startled by her friend's
suggestion that she did not attempt
to conceal her alarm. Martha patted
her arm reassuringly. "Don't be dis-
turbed. I'm sure Herod will not dare
molest your friend."
Then the desire to tease again took
possession of her. "But another ad-
mirer of yours, Zebulon, is on the
side of the tetrarch. Have you cast
him off?"
"Martha, you almost offend me. I
have not cast Zebulon off, for at no
time have I given him the slightest
encouragement. You well know I
have often been really afraid of him."
The visitor embraced her friend
warmly. "Now don't be angry, Ruth.
You should have learned long since
that I love to see your eyes flash at
my senseless teasing."
Ruth was somewhat mollified. "Of
course what you say about David's
safety surprises and disturbs me."
"Have no fear because of my fool-
ish words," said Martha. "There is a
vast difference between beheading a
poor prisoner whose only followers
are among the rabble, and harming
one of influence whose friends can-
not be awed by anyone less powerful
than Caesar."
Martha proceeded to say that the
timorous Herod was disturbed because
of the execution of John and its effect
upon the populace. Also, having
heard of some marvelous works done
by one who had recently come among
them, Herod feared that his victim
(Continued on following page)
APRIL 1957
our "GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY"
Is Your "GOLDEN" Opportunity
to do something about that new organ you need
in your church (or home).
the HAMMOND ORGAN
The Only ELECTRIC Organ
offers "GOLDEN" savings over a long period of years in first
cost and upkeep,— a "GOLDEN" sum that can be used for
replacement of other important furnishings.
Make an unprejudiced investigation of the HAMMOND and
know how much more you get for the "GOLD" you spend.
Visit with us during Conference or send to us for full particulars.
GLEN BROS. MUSIC CO.
CELEBRATING OUR "GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY'
OGDEN
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(L.D.S. Owned and Operated)
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Sample table sent for your inspection.
Write or telephone collect 4390.
D. H. LOOSL1 CO., INC.
Idaho Falls, Idaho
29950
5th Semi-Annual
LDS Tour to
HAWAII
May 18-27 (May 18-31 only $29.95 more)
- ALL THIS INCLUDED -
• United Airlines Round Trip L. A. -Honolulu
• Hotel • Circle Island Tour • Mr. Tanta-
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Entertainment • Some Meals • Limousine
Service to and from Honolulu Airport.
WRITE FOR BROCHURE
California Intermountain News
1023 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles 29, Calif.
Specifically planned for LDS
Whenever you move-
Send your old mailing label to-
gether with your new address to
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
50 North Main Street
Salt Lake City 16, Utah
283
Eyes Are
Precious!
GOOD LIGHT
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BETTER SIGHT
Buy from Your Dealer
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Name ;
Street
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(Continued from preceding page)
had risen from the dead. Out of
curiosity, her father had carefully in-
vestigated the matter.
"And what did he learn?" Ruth
asked.
"That such a supposition is absurd,
of course. The men are about the
same age, and there is, to be sure, a
slight resemblance, which is perfectly
natural, for they are said to be re-
lated. This new man is a carpenter
from Nazareth and really has an un-
natural power over the people. He
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A ll of us always have unfinished business. Most of us
have unfulfilled obligations. Most of us have things
piled far before us that always weigh on us and worry us —
things we never quite get to, things we never quite catch
up with — things we have agreed to do but haven't done. We
worry about assignments we have accepted and about prepara-
tion postponed — until we find ourselves facing final dead-
lines, having to do in a short time what we should have done
a little of each day. Some men may have worn themselves
away with overwork. But many men have worn themselves
away with worry about work they weren't really working at.
There is something in us that somehow seems to suggest that
what we neglect today will somehow be easier tomorrow. It
is true of students at school: If today's assignment seems too
heavy, too difficult to do, it may be postponed for something
easier — perhaps for some pleasant pastime — on the un-
realistic assumption that we can somehow assimilate a double
dose tomorrow. (What is it that makes men suppose that
they can more easily do twice tomorrow what they didn't do
once today!) Anything we have to do — even the simplest
assignment — will weigh on us and worry us until we begin
to get at it: the problems there are to work, the pages there
areto read, the debts there are to pay — (even the dishes there
are to do) — the things there are to repent of: all will worry
and wear at us until we have made a start — until we have
made the assignment one less instead of one longer — until
we have actually done something to begin to get done what
there is to do — in short: until we have repented and reversed
the process — until we have moved one shovelful, even if there
is a mountain that must be moved. The only way to get a
job done is to begin to do it. The only way to do our duty
is to begin to do it. We can't be comfortable if we're drifting
in the wrong direction. To have peace and self-respect, and
to lift the weight of worry, we have to repent, we have to
reverse the process. Indeed, without the principle of repent-
ance, life would be fruitless and frustrating for us all — but
blessedly there is no man whose life cannot be improved by
repenting. And the best evidence of repentance is to stop
doing what we shouldn't do, and to start doing what we
should do.
~Jhe
Spoken Word
P°" FROM TEMPLE SQUARE
PRESENTED OVER KSL AND THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING
SYSTEM, JANUARY 27, 1957
Copyright 1957
wo
9
Richard L. Evans *k
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284
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
has won a great following in Galilee,
usually from among the poor and ig-
norant classes, and even here in Jeri-
cho many believe, because of his
magic, that he is a prophet."
"This must be the man about whom
Lebanah speaks," David suggested.
"Lebanah? I've heard of him,"
Martha continued. "Perhaps this
is the man. He is fearless. Not
long since he was warned that
Herod would kill him if he remained
in these parts, and he showed his
utter disdain by openly calling the
tetrarch a fox."
"He must be a prophet," David
commented.
"But perhaps not, after all," said
Ruth; "everybody knows that Herod
is a fox or something worse."
Then Martha's love of teasing
again became apparent, and David
left hurriedly rather than face more
of it.
(To be continued)
The Church Moves On
(Concluded from page 216)
ings were made. This part of the
project, under the direction of Bisbop
Stanley D. Rees and Recording Arts,
required fifty 1,200-foot reels of onc-
quarter-inch recording tape. The 331/^
r, p. m. records were made from these
tape recordings by Allied Record Manu-
facturing Company, Los Angeles, which
is managed by Elder Daken K. Broad-
head, formerly first counselor in the
Pasadena (California) Stake presidency,
Each side of these records runs about
twenty minutes.
3^ President David O. McKay dedi-
W cated the new University of Utah
Union, a student center on the campus,
at Founders' Day rites.
A new natural arch in southeastern
Utah, undiscovered until a few weeks
ago, was officially named "George Albert
Smith Arch" after the late President of
the Church. The arch, as yet unvisited
by ground parties, is situated about 25
miles northwest of Monticello and 11
miles southeast of the junction of the
Green and Colorado rivers. As closely
as can be determined from the air it
measures about 160 feet wide at its base
and is 75 feet high. Accurate measure-
ments will be taken and a name plaque
placed on the arch in early April when
an expedition of Explorer Scouts and
leaders plan a trek to the arch on foot.
APRIL 1957
FROM TABLE QUEEN BREAD
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"And the angel answered and said unto the
women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus,
which was crucified.
"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
"And go quickly, and tell hts disciples that he
is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth be-
fore you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: Lo,
I have told you."
—St. Matthew 28:5-7.
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Salt Lake City, Utah
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City State
285
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286
How, When, and Why We Tithed
(Concluded from page 248)
"The spring of 1900, the Lord sent
into our pathway Latter-day Saint
elders. After a good canvass of this
question with them, my husband de-
cided to tithe. Our first tithing was
done in April. We placed it away,
not knowing where to give it, wait-
ing for our Father to tell us. We
had broken away from the Protestant
churches long ere this and were strug-
gling with the mighty question,
'Where is God's house?'
"In July, we had our three little
children blessed by the Mormon
elders and Mr. C. gave his first tithes.
Since we began to tithe last April,
our finances have begun to improve,
and we have not been without plenty
in our larder and money in our
pockets and more coming in. We
have our ups and downs still, but
now we know our Father will keep
us and will give us all we need, as
fast as we can assimilate his bless-
ings.
"Tithing is a blessing, and I do not
see how we ever got along before
without it. Now there is no worry
when things get low. We know, God
knows we are trying to do our duty,
and he always provides more."
I may state that since hearing the
above, Mr. C. and his wife have been
baptized, and a letter from her today
informs me that if it had not been
for adversity overtaking them, they
would never have received the won-
drous blessing of the gospel, and they
can see the hand of God through it
all! They are prospering now, and
her letter concludes: "Tithing has
established our faith as no other way
could."
Testimony
(Continued from page 228)
If we possess the mind of Christ,
we shall obtain the principles and
truths of Christ. Being perfect, Christ
had access to all truth. What he
taught was truth and the power of
God unto salvation. Truth is given
to us in proportion to our perfectness.
For this reason, we are all counseled
to perfect ourselves through the gospel
plan of the Redeemer and Savior of
the world, that wisdom may always
be ours to enjoy.
The wisdom of God — the wisdom
of men . . . which transcends the
other? Whom should we follow?
Which bestows the greatest gifts and
blessings?
Paul, the gifted and dynamic serv-
ant of Christ, witnessed to the
Corinthians:
For the preaching of the cross is to them
that perish foolishness; but unto us which
are saved it is the power of God.
For after that in the wisdom of God the
world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased
God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe.
For the Jews require a sign, and the
Greeks seek wisdom:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the
Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness;
Because the foolishness of God is wiser
than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men.
That no flesh should glory in his presence.
(I Cor. 1:18, 21-23, 25, 29.)
Now, the created cannot be greater
than the Creator! God said, in sub-
stance, to Abraham, "I am the greatest
of all the intelligences which I have
created." Can that fact be questioned
or denied?
The Prophet Nephi, the son of
Lehi, understood the foolishness of
men, for he said:
And wo unto them that seek deep to hide
their counsel from the Lord! And their
works are in the dark; and they say: Who
seeth us, and who knoweth us? And they
also say: Surely, your turning of things
upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's
clay. But behold, I will show unto them,
saith the Lord of Hosts, that I know all
their works. For shall the work say of him
that made it, he made me not? Or shall
the thing framed say of him that framed
it, he had no understanding? (2 Nephi
27:27.)
The Lord revealed to the Prophet
Joseph Smith this glorious truth for
the enlightenment and understanding
of all men:
For the word of the Lord is truth, and
whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever
is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus
Christ.
And the Spirit giveth light to every man
. . . through the world, that hearkeneth to
the voice of the Spirit. "
And every one that hearkeneth to the
voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even
the Father. (D & C 84:45-47.)
God, then, is the source of all
knowledge and wisdom, for the Spirit
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
is to enlighten every man through the
world that will hearken to the voice
of the Spirit. Such an one comes to
God, the very Eternal Father of all.
In fulfilling the ideal life for eternal
joys you cannot substitute the wis-
dom nor the philosophies of men for
the gospel and the infinite wisdom of
God. The Savior in his glorious
Sermon on the Mount called atten-
tion to the physical and temporal
things sought after by the gentiles,
then reminded his disciples that their
Heavenly Father knew the things
they had need of and counseled:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33.)
Eighty Years Service
to Our lord
(Concluded from page 225)
the Lord. More recently, until the
erection of the Los Angeles Temple,
it served (with the Arizona Temple
at Mesa) the members in California
who desired to enter a temple and
be blessed thereby. It is also a haven
for elderly folk, who desire to do
temple work during the mild St.
George winters. Yes, the future is
bright for this grand old building.
Airline pilots use it as a never-
failing landmark. The six-acre tem-
ple grounds are a tourist must in
southern Utah.
Who would place a price on the
original cost of this temple? Those
who would, must remember that it
was built in a day when a man would
work all day for a neighbor to receive
a jug of molasses which he could
barter for his needs. And much of
the labor on the St. George Temple
was freely given by individuals and
communities. Nevertheless, it is
thought that one million dollars is a
good construction cost estimate. The
building has been renovated several
times.
THE AWAKENING
By Beulah Huish Sadleir
What deep desire to clothe the soul
In raiment that is pure!
Some truths come late
To be appraised —
Like minute diamonds after April rain
And late September's wordless eloquence
In clouds.
APRIL 1957
mid-term classes
Spring Quarter mid-term enrollment starts Monday, April 22
There's still time to start your training at LDS Business College where individualized instruction,
modern office equipment and latest professional methods are combined to give highest market value
for business skills.
MID-TERM
BUSINESS
SUBJECTS:
IB
Hy-Speed Longhand
Gregg Shorthand
Stenotypy {machine
shorthand)
Office Machines
Accounting: Introductory
and advanced
Federal Tax Accounting
IBM Key Punch
IBM Bank Proof
Electric and Standard
Typewriting
Plus many others
BUSINESS COLLEGE
70 NORTH MAIN
SALT LAKE CITY
PHONE
EM 3-2765
montooe
i FOLDING
BANQUET
< TABLES
Direct Prices &
Discounts to
Churches, Schools,
and all Institutions
Transport Storage
Truck No. TS
MONROE TRUCKS
For storing Folding Tables and Chairs
the easy, modern way Each truck
handles either tables or chairs. Construe
tion of Truck No. TSC permits storage
in limited space.
Church Units may direct their inquiries to the
Church Purchasing Department, 47 East
South Temple, Salt Lake City 1, Utah.
THE 1W0H*OC COMPANY
249 CHURCH STREET. COLFAX.
SKIN PROBLEMS?
If you are troubled with rough, dry,
scaling or itching skin or are an adoles-
cent with skin troubles and have given
up in despair, thinking no product would
relieve or heal your skin, then you owe
it to yourself to try H & M OINTMENT.
Your druggist has this marvelous healing
ointment and will gladly refund your
money if you are not pleased with re-
sults. It is pleasant to use, odorless and
skin-color.
H * M
ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED TO SATISFY.
Get it at your drug store, or order from
H & M LABORATORIES
151 EAST 2ND NORTH, NEPHi, UTAH
1 oz. - $1.25 2 oz. - $2.00
POSTPAID
PIKES PEAK
Highest Quality
All Purpose FLOUR
FLOUR
• MICNIft ILIACMID
tNCQiBRAtTC MlLIMClfLUlTOntOIMfT
J
SALT LAKE FLOUR MILLS
Salt Lake City, Utah
Bind Your Eras for 1956
Subscribers who wish to bind the 1956
volume of THE IMPROVEMENT ERA are
informed that the annual index is now
ready.
Reserve your index by sending your name
and address to
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
50 North Main Street
Salt Lake City 16, Utah
Please enclose a three-cent stamp.
287
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YOUR PAGE
Jo Ann Barrett
Marilyn Miller
Dear Editors:
Two young girls from the Malta Ward, Raft River Stake, have
achieved five years of perfect attendance at Mutual, Sacrament
meeting, and Sunday School.
Marilyn Miller, daughter of President and Mrs. E. S. Miller of
Malta, Idaho, is twenty years of age. She has served as Primary
organist of the Albion Ward, Raft River Stake; organist of the
Sunday School; and secretary of YWMIA of the Malta Ward, Raft
River Stake. She has attended one year of school at Ricks College
and at present is employed at the LDS Church offices in Salt Lake
City.
JoAnn Barrett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barrett, of Malta,
Idaho, is eighteen years of age. She has been a teacher in Primary
and also served as secretary for the YWMIA of the Malta Ward.
JoAnn is now attending school at Brigham Young University.
Mrs. Clara Beyler
President, YWMIA, Malta Ward,
Raft River Stake
FOOTNOTE ON THE SPANISH TRANSLATOR OF THE
BOOK OF MORMON
fter the publication of K. E. Duke's story on Meliton Gonzalez
Trejo on page 714 of the October 1956 issue of The Improve-
ment Era, Mrs. A. L. Reese and Mrs. Garr Hovey of Logan, Utah,
of the family of James Z. Stewart, called to our attention informa-
tion the Era editors had overlooked, indicating that Elder Stewart
worked on the translation of the Book of Mormon into Spanish.
Andrew Jenson, in his Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclo-
pedia, volume 1, page 417, records:
"In the fall of 1883 Apostle Moses Thatcher was instructed to
have the Book of Mormon translated into the Spanish language;
the responsibility of the work was placed upon Elder Stewart, and
he was told by Apostle Thatcher that he would hold him personally
responsible for the accuracy and general character of the translation.
The translation was made during the winter by him and Elder
Meliton G. Trejo."
Daniel W. Jones, in his Forty Years Among the Indians, pages
224-225, quotes a letter he received from Brigham Young, dated
June 1, 1875, authorizing Elder Jones to solicit funds to be applied
toward the support of Brother Trejo while he was translating the
Book of Mormon and other material into the Spanish language;
the collected funds would also be used to defray the cost of pub-
lishing the works. There follows a long list of persons who con-
tributed money to Elder Jones for this purpose. And there is an
indication that Elder Jones, working with Elder Trejo, might have
done some of the translating himself. The .Brigham Young letter
cited concludes that Elder Trejo's translations ". . . are desired to
be done by November next [1875]." This was not accomplished.
The title page of the first edition of the Spanish translation of
the Book of Mormon which came from the press in 1886 reads:
"Translated into Spanish under the direction of Apostle Moses
Thatcher by Meliton G. Trejo and James Z. Stewart."
MIAMI SECOND BRANCH PRESENTS PLAY
D
oyle Green's Christmas story in the December Era was such a
fresh approach to this often-told episode that we felt you should
know how very well received it was by the members and non-
members who attended this presentation.
Prepared and co-ordinated by Millie Cheesman with appropriate
Christmas music, it was presented with a beautiful tableau by a
small branch in the mission field. With branch president Paul R.
Cheesman reading Doyle Green's fitting and beautifully direct story
of Mary and the birth of Jesus, a twenty-four voice choir sang
in semi-darkness, as soft lights illuminated the scenes depicting
Mary's visitation by the angel, Joseph telling of his vision, and last
of all the manger scene.
We felt this presentation might be of particular interest because
50 percent of the chorus is made up of LDS Air Force men and
their wives stationed in Homestead, Florida. The conductor was
Art Peterson, a talented musician who received his master's degree
from the University of Utah.
ssffc
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. :
288
AND OURS
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
"ii#'1
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■
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NUMBER 4 OF A SERIES: "SHARING THE GOOD THINGS OF LIFE'
HAPPY FAMILIES^ DO THINGS TOGETHER
"Now watch the birdie" . . . click . . . and we
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we hope! With Jimmy making rabbit ears behind
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BENEFICIAL LIFE
David O. McKay, Pres.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
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Cleveland Museum of Art
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