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VOL. 33 NO 1
Lessons for April
JANUARY 1946
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THE RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE
Montlilv publication of the Relief Socict}' of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lntter-dav Saints
RELIEF SOCIETY GENERAL BOARD
Belle S. Spafford -_--.. President
Marianne C. Sharp - - - - - . First Counselor
Gertrude R. Ga^ff . . . . _ Second Counselor
Margaret C. Pickering ----- Secretary-Treasurer
Achsa E. Paxman Anna B. Hart Florence J. Madsen Blanche B. Stoddard
Mary G. Judd Edith S. Elliott Ann P. Nibley Evon W. Peterson
Luella N. Adams Priscilla L. Evans Leone G. Layton Leone O. Jacobs
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE
Velma N. Simonsen
Editor _-----.--. Marianne C. Sharp
Editorial Secretary ----___. Vesta P. Crawford
General Manager --------- Belle S. Spafford
Vol. 33 JANUARY 1946 No. 1
G
on tents
SPECIAL FEATURES
Frontispiece Picture General Presidency of Relief Society 2
New Year's Greetings President Belle S. Spafford 3
Margaret Cummock Pickering President Amy Brown Lyman 4
Award Winners — Eliza Roxey Snow Memorial Prize Poem Contest 6
Star of Gold — First Prize Poem Eva Willes Wangsgaard 7
I Shall Be Late — Second Prize Poem Betty Wall Madsen 9
The Good Inheritance — Third Prize Poem Caroline Eyring Miner 10
Award Winners — Relief Society Short Story Contest 12
Spring Festival — First Prize Story Mary Ek Knowles 13
Nicholas G. Smith — A Tribute Elder Marion G. Romney 2C
Drifting — Or Sailing to a Charted Course Leila Marler Hoggan 22
Unceasing Crusade National Foundation For Infantile Paralysis 26
Mormonism In the Eyes of the Press:
Dollv Madison and the Outcast Mormons Elder James R. Clark 28
Let Us Fittingly Mark the Land Elder Howard R. Driggs 31
FICTION
And For Eternity — Chapter 8 Olive Woolley Burt 44
GENERAL FEATURES
Sixty Years Ago 36
Woman's Sphere Ramona W. Cannon 37
Editorials: Be Not Weary in Well-Doing Marianne C. Sharp 38
Howard S. McDonald Inaugurated President of Brigham Young University 32
Blanche B. Stoddard Resigns as General Secretary-Treasurer 40
In Memoriam: Elder Joseph J. Cannon and Elder Burton K. Farnsworth 40
Notes to the Field: Only One Relief Society Conference to be Held Each Year 41
Relief Society Assigned Evening Meeting Fast Sunday in March 41
Suggestions to Contributors 42
Notes From the Field: Messages From the Missions
General Secretary-Treasurer Margaret C. Pickering 50
LESSON DEPARTMENT
Theology: The United Order Begun and Its Establishment in the Settlements
Dr. H. Wayne Driggs 56
Visiting Teachers' Messages: Charity Hopeth All Things, Charity Endureth All Things
Dr. Lowell L. Bennion 60
Literature: Bible Influence as Revealed in Sermons, Essays, and Orations
Dr. Howard R. Driggs 61
Social Science: Some Broader Applications of Social Ethics Dr. Harold T. Christensen 66
POETRY
The Infinite — Frontispiece . Grace Sayre 1
After A While Maude Hatch Benedict 21
Elijah Alice Morrey Bailey 24
The Weight of Your Cloud Edna S. Dustin 27
Shopping For a Doll Hazel Jones Owen 30
Promise Christie Lund Coles 35
I Know a Road Violet Harris Hendrickson 43
Hill Woman Maude Blixt Trone 49
The Morning Star Courtney E. Cottam 71
Letter Nan S. Richardson 72
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE GENERAL BOARD OF RELIEF SOCIETY
Editorial and Business Offices: 28 Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City 1, Utah, Phone 3-2741. Ex. 243. Subscription Price: $1.00 a year; foreign. $1.00 a year; payable in advance. Single copy, 10c. The Magazine is not sent after subscription expires. Renew promptly so that no copies will be missed. Report change of address at once, giving both old and new address.
Entered as second-class matter February 18, 1914, at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, under the act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 8, 1917, authorized June 29, 19i8. Manuscripts will not be returned unless return postage is enclosed. Rejected manuscripts will be retained for six months only. The Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
MAGAZINE CIRCULATION. 74,000
THE RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE
VOL. 33, NO. 1 JANUARY 1946
THE INFINITE
Grace Sayre
Where day has swept her silken sails of gold
The sunset sky holds brightly bannered light;
Beneath the evening's fast-diminishing glow
The wet sand hollows lie in saucered mold..
Upon the rocky ledge here at my hand
I reach to lift a star-beam from the pool
Of saucered sand, and dip my finger tips
To place it on a shelving rock to cool.
I lift my two cupped hands, high up, to hold
The star that slips through trickling sands of gold.
Where does this beauty go, when tides ha\e cleaned
The star-beams from each hollowed spot of sand?
WTiy does the tide sweep loveliness away
When I have held the universe in my hand?
I can but trust my world to him to hold
Who made the stars, the tides, the ocean's gold.
The Cover: "Silhouette of Trees" from a photograph bv Grace O. Tuttle.
liev^ LJ ear's (greetings
ON behalf of the General Board of Relief Society we extend love and New Year's greetings to Relief Society members throughout the world, and we pray that this new year will bring them comfort, spirit- ual strength, and joy.
Relief Society women, like everyone else the world over, have passed through dark days during the past war years. They have had difficult and heartbreaking experiences, but they have met these experiences with a fortitude born of faith— a faith that God was at the helm directing in the affairs of men and that ultimately right would triumph over wrong. They have worked and prayed. They have been courageous in their individual lives. They have bound up the brokenhearted and have earnestly sought after peace.
And the spirit of God has been upon them even as it was upon Isaiah of old when he bound up the brokenhearted. They have been given strength according to their faith as was Alma when he broke the prison cords unto deliverance.
And now the new year is upon us. The mighty nations have bidden their armies to lay down their weapons of war. For this we are truly grate- ful and we acknowledge the goodness of our Heavenly Father. But we also know that the new year, too, will exact of us strong faith, great courage, de- votion to human welfare and a continued striving for peace.
This is a time when we might with profit read the vision of Lehi when he beheld a rod of iron which extended along the bank of the river and led to the tree by which he stood. And the iron rod was the word of God which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters were a representation of the love of God. And many caught hold of the rod of iron but did not hold fast and were drowned in the depths of the foun- tain, and many loosed their hold and wandered into strange roads and were lost (INephi ii).
Only as we cling fast to the iron rod will we be secure. As we cling fast to the word of God, the spirit of God will attend us, his love will be poured forth upon us; we will receive strength and courage according to our needs, and we shall have peace, that true inner peace, that quietness and assurance which the Prophet Isaiah told us was the work of righteousness. And our righteousness shall be a leaven unto the wickedness of the world. We shall be like a lamp that burneth in the darkness, and ''Gentiles shall see our righteousness and kings our glory."
The prayers of the General Board are ever with the sisters of the Relief Society wheilier they abide in our own or foreign lands. May we all so con- duct our lives that nothing will stand between us and the blessings we seek at God's hands.
Belle S. Spafford Marianne C. Sharp Gertrude R. Garff,
General Presidency. - Page 3
Margaret Cummock Pickering
President Amy Brown Lyman
MARGARET Cummock Picker- ing, appointed General Sec- retary-Treasurer of the Relief Society October 31, 1945, is well known in both the Church and the community as an untiring, efficient, and willing worker. In Church and other humanitarian causes, and in the promotion of civic enterprise and impro\'ements, she has given so fulh- of her time and talents that it has been said of her that "she majors in volunteer semce."
In her new and responsible calling her best effort will be put forth to carry forward the important work and other duties thus assigned to her and to maintain high standards; and she will bring to this position a wealth of knowledge and experience which will be helpful to Relief So- ciety women in solving their practi- cal problems.
A devoted Latter-da\ Saint, Sis- ter Pickering has cheerf ulh accepted calls made of her 5y the Church, and she has performed faithfully every duty and responsibilit\ these important calls have placed upon her. While she has served in \ arious Church capacities, her chief work has been in connection with the Re- lief Societ}', where, through the years, her special talents have been utilized in both ward and stake sec- retarial work. As secretary-treasur- er of the Relief Society of the South Eighteenth Ward, and also of the Relief Society of Ensign Stake, her work has been outstanding. During the last two years she has rendered efficient assistance in the office of
Page 4
the General Secretary-Treasurer at Relief Society headquarters.
Her civic and community activi- ties have been unusually varied and extensive. Because of her wide ac- quaintance, her organizing ability, and her willingness to render service, she has been an important factor in the work of many State and local agencies. She was the first executive secretary of the Woman's Civic Center, where she helped to organ- ize and establish this worthv and helpful institution; the first secretary- of the Utah State Society For Men- tal Hygiene; a member of the ex- ecutive committee of the Commun- ity Chest, which agency she has con- tinuously supported; and for many years she has sensed as a director of the Salt Lake County chapter of the American Red Cross, where at present she is acting as vice-chairman of the chapter in charge of women's activities.
Sister Pickering was born in Salt Lake City, where she has continuous- ly resided. She is a daughter of the late John B. Cummock and Annie Robertson Cummock who accepted the gospel message in far-away Scot- land and left their home to emigrate to Utah to cast their lot with the saints in Zion. She is the wife of Harold W. Pickering, a business man of ability and head of the Pick- ering Advertising Agency. He is a cultured, kindly gentleman, devoted to his wife and home, and always ready and willing to support her in all her work and undertakings.
Sister Pickering received her edu-
MARGARET CUMMOCK PICKERING
cation in the public schools of Salt Lake Cit)^ and the Latter-day Saints College from which she was gradu- ated. She has also taken special courses at the Utah State Agricul- tural College and at the University of Utah.
I first met Margaret Cummock when, as a young girl, she was em- ployed at the general headquarters of the Young Men's Mutual Im- provement Association as office sec- retar}', and I was serving in the head- quarters of the Relief Society as General Secretary.
At that time, the general offices of the Y.M.M.LA. were located on the south side of the second floor of the Bishop's Building, and those of the Relief Society on the north side, v^th only the long hall separat- ing them. Margaret was, for a num- ber of years, a worker in the Era of- fice, where she very naturally be- came intimately associated with us Relief Society workers across the hall, and greatly interested in our work. She was in and out of our offices as we planned the publication and launched the Relief Society Bul- letin in 1914, and The Relief Society Magazine in 1915. Our group of Relief Society workers at that time included, among others. Aunt Em Wells, General President, Susa Young Gates, and Jeanette A. Hyde, editor and business manager, re- spectively, of The Relief Society Magazine. I am sure it was during these early years of her life that Mar- garet learned to love, understand, and appreciate the work of the great Relief Society organization which has all through the years been so dear to her.
Margaret was fortunate in her of- fice experience, having been assigned
MARGARET CUMMOCK PICKERING
principally to the editorial depart- ment of the Era when she worked under the direction of that scholarly and faithful Latter-day Saint and editor, Edward H. Anderson. The work she was doing also brought her in close and frequent contact with many of the General Authorities of the Church, including President Heber J. Grant who at that time was personally super\ising the financial aEairs of the Era. President Grant was, therefore, a frequent caller at the Era office where he checked and examined records and reports and dictated letters. I heard him say many times in those days that no one else could please him quite so well in taking and transcribing dicta- tion as could Margaret Cummock. This association with prominent Church workers was a fine influence in her life, and, no doubt, her knowl- edge of the gospel was increased and her testimony strengthened.
{Concluded on page 27)
^ytsK^ard vi/t'
ifiners
ibliza Uxoxe^ Sno\K> I Hemonal [Prize [Poem (contest
npHE Relief Society General Board is pleased to announce the names of the three prize winners in the 1945 Eliza R. Snow Memorial Prize Poem Contest. This contest was an- nounced in the June 1945 issue of the Magazine and closed September
15^ 1945-
The first prize of twenty dollars is awarded to Eva Willes Wangsgaard, 818 28th Street, Ogden, Utah, for her poem "Star of Gold."
The second prize of fifteen dol- lars is awarded to Betty Wall Mad- sen, 1066 East 9th South, Salt Lake City, for her poem "I Shall Be Late."
The third prize of ten dollars is awarded to Caroline Eyring Miner, Bunkerville, Nevada, for her poem 'The Good Inheritance."
This poem contest has been con- ducted annually by the Relief So- ciety General Board since 1923 in honor of Eliza R. Snow, second gen- eral president of Relief Society.
The contest is open to all Latter- day Saint women and is designed to encourage poetry writing, and to in- crease appreciation for creative writ- ing and the beauty and value of po- etic verse. Prize-winning poems are
the property of the Relief Society General Board and may not be used for publication by others except up- on written permission from the Gen- eral Board. The General Board re- serves the right to publish any of the other poems submitted, paying for them at the time of publication at the regular Magazine rate. A writer who has received the first prize for two consecutive years must wait two years before she is again eligible to enter the contest.
There were sixty-seven poems sub- mitted in this year's contest, entries coming from many of the states, as well as from Alaska, Canada, Au- stralia, and England. The General Board congratulates the prize win- ners and expresses appreciation to all entrants for their interest in the con- test and the general excellence of the work submitted.
The Board wishes, also, to thank the three judges for their care and diligence in selecting the prize-win- ning poems. The assistance of the poetry committee of the General Board is very much appreciated.
The prize-winning poems, togeth- er with photographs of the prize win- ning contestants, are published here- with.
Page 6
[Prize- Vi/inning LPoems
ibliza LKoxey (bnow I liemonal LPnze [Poem (contest
EVA WILLES WANGSGAARD First Prize Poem
Star of y^ola
Eva Waies Wangsgaard
I — My neighbor's window frames a golden star Where last year hung its counterpart in blue, A sharp reminder of one gone too far To walk again the friendly street he knew. Long weeks ago his mother hung it there And still the dusk of grief is in her eyes And loneliness impossible to share Or mitigate by kneeling where he lies. She neither dwells upon him nor evades The mention of his name when others ask; Though memory wounds each day with deeper blades, She goes with normal mien from task to task. At what a cost her courage has been won! I've seen her hang her pillow in the sun.
Page 7
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
II — This star is many sons in one to her: A gurghng baby showing his first tooth, A tear-stained youngster pleading for a cur, A proud boy scout, a gangUng, earnest youth. She knew his untried strength, his zest for hfe, Ideals he thought worth fighting to uphold, The girl he loved and hoped to make his wife— And sharp cessation in this star of gold. To me, it is a symbol of the loss Of myriads of men who went beyond The lonely foxhole to the small white cross In Libyan sands or brushed by tropic frond. Oh, modern wise men, kneel in reverence Before this star and offer recompense!
Ill — The roaring wings that tore the world apart And made a mockery of miles and weather Can fly the lanes of peace and make a start Toward landing fields where all men walk together As neighbors should. Then, though he lies in sands Long burned by suns, or under shaggy palm Or chestnut tree or where the linden stands, His timeless sleeping shall be sound and calm. There was another star, another cross. Another wound that grew a rose as red; They hold the answer to my neighbor's loss. This star can lead us as the other led The shepherd's feet. Though high the goal and far, Can we deny the beckoning of a star?
Eva Willes Wangsgaard, Ogden, Utah, is the author of three books of poetry: Singing Hearts, Down This Road, and After the Blossoming. Her poems have appeared in many national periodicals including the American Mercury, the Saturday Evening Post, the New York Times, and the Washing- ton D. C. Post, and in such poetry magazines as Wings, Spirit, and the Florida Magazine of Verse. She placed first in the Huckelberry Mountain Colony's Poetry Contest in 1943, the only time in the history of the contest when all five of the judges chose the same poem. There were 1 500 entries. Mrs. Wangs- gaard has won awards in many other contests, including: The Deseret News Christmas Poetry Contest, 1938, 1939, 1940, and 1942; first in the Eliza R. Snow Memorial Prize Poem Contest in 1941 and second in 1938; first in the Utah Federation of Women's Clubs Poetry Contest, 1939; first in the League of Utah Writer's Poetry Contest 1940 and 1942, and second in 1941. Her poem "To Betsy Ross" first published in the New York Heiald-Tribune, June 14, 1945, was reprinted in various newspapers and broadcast on the "World Homemakers" program from Chicago on "V-J" Day. Wife of David Wangs- gaard, Assistant Superintendent of Ogden City Schools, Mrs. Wangsgaard is the mother of three children, the oldest a first lieutenant stationed in Tokyo.
PRIZE-WINNING POEMS
^^4(^f^^^^^/A7^''^'//yw//
BETTY WALL MADSEN
Second Prize Poem
^ Shall {Be JLate
Betty Wall Madsen
Blue shadow-fingers resting on the hills,
Will bind my heart more strongly than a chain, And April's arms in sleeves of daffodils
Will reach for me again and yet again. The scent of warm, brown earth will follow me
Long after I have left her friendly touch, To hold me and refuse to set me free,
I who have loved all earthly things so much.
I shall be late when angel hymns begin; •
I shall be late when holy trumpets blow, Though heaven's gate swings wide to let me in
And God holds out his hand to me. And though The sweetest of celestial bells be ringing,
*I shall turn back to hear one robin singing.
10
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
Betty Wall Madsen was born in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. She attended Wa- satch Academy in her home town and Snow Academy in Ephraim, where she was editor of the Yearbook. Her poetry has appeared in Pictorial Review, Ted Malone's Scrapbook, the ImpTOvement Era, and other pubUcations. She placed first in the Art Barn Annual Poetry Contest 1944-45; first in the Utah Federation of Women's Clubs Poetry Contest 1942 and 1943; first in the National Thanksgiving Association Poetry Contest, 1944; and first in the Deseret News Christmas Poetry Contest, 1943. Mrs. Madsen is the wife of E. Wallace Madsen, who is now in the United States Navy. The Madsens are the parents of a five-year-old daughter.
CAROLINE EYRING MINER
Third Prize Poem
cJhe Cfood inheritance
CaioUne Eyhng Miner
I - Earth
All this is mine: the warm and fertile earth That yearns to yield her body to the seed Of purpling grape, of grain, of flower; the speed Of swallow darting through the dusk to find His mate; the miracle of human birth; The beauty of the changing sky; the need Of sun and rain for growth; the slender reed That trails the stream and sways against the wind
PRIZE-WINNING POEMS 11
And echoes back all songs the world has known; The hour when the sun has set, and light Along the mountains frames one star alone; The heat of summer and the shade's delight. All this, the earth, the sea, the sky, in mood Both gay and sad, God gave, and called it good.
II — Democracy
The love of man for man is at the core Of all; it is the song upon the lips; The anguished cry that mothers give, that more From heart than voice emerges, and so grips Your soul in sorrow, too. It is the light That glows in honest eyes when they behold Another who has won his fight for right; The quiet peace when one has more than gold To weigh the value of his daily toil. It is what Athens sought so long ago. The day democracy was bom, and soil Was blessed for use of common man; a low. But certain call in England's monarchy, The glorious anthem of democracy.
III — Religious Freedom
Almost a century ago they came.
Brave fighting hearts, wending their weary way
Across the trackless plains, their homes aflame
Behind them, mobs pursuing them. Today,
Here in these mountain vallevs, free from fear
Of persecution, I enjoy this time
Of sweet tranquility, and worship here
As freely as an eagle soars, sublime
In its seclusion, o'er its mountain nest.
This is the quiet peace the warbler knows
That sits atop the tallest branch to rest.
Surveying berry patch and garden rows
And the unfathomed reaches of the sky,
With mystery and wonder in his eye.
Caroline Eyring Miner received third prize in the 1944 Eliza R. Snow Memorial Prize Poem Contest for her entry "That Which Sustains." Our readers are famihar with Mrs. Miner's other fine contributions to the Magazine. Her work reveals a deep spiritual insight, keen observation, and beauty and accuracy of expression. At present Mrs. Miner is living in Bunkerville, Ne- vada, where her husband is principal of the high school. The Miners have six children.
J^ward vi/i'.
ifiners
J/Lnnual uielief Society Short Story (contest
npHE Relief Society General Board is pleased to announce the names of the award winners in the short story contest which was announced in the June 1945 issue of the Maga- zine and which closed September
15' 1945-
The first prize of thirty-five dollars is awarded to Mary Ek Knowles, 1025 Darhng Street, Ogden, Utah, for her story "Spring Festival."
The second prize of twenty-five dollars is awarded to Alice Morrey Bailey, 256 Iowa Street, Salt Lake City, for her story 'The Ring of Strength."
The third prize of fifteen dollars is awarded to Irva Pratt Andrus, 1 30 West 4th North, Provo, Utah, for her story "All Is Known."
This short story contest, first con- ducted by the Relief Society General Board in 1941 as a feature of the centennial observance, was made an annual contest in 1942. The contest is open only to Latter-day Saint women who have had at least one literary composition published or ac- cepted for publication by the editor of a publication of recognized merit.
The three prize-winning stories are to be published consecutively in the first three issues of the Magazine for 1946. Prize-winning stories be- come the property of the General Board and may not be published by others except by written permission from the General Board. The Gen- eral Board reserves the right to pub- Page 12
lish any of the other stories entered in the contest, paying for them at the regular Magazine rate at the time of publication. A writer who has re- ceived first prize for two consecutive years must wait two years before she is again eligible to enter the contest.
Twenty-five manuscripts were sub- mitted in the contest for 1945. This contest was initiated to encourage Latter-day Saint women to express themselves in the field of fiction. The General Board feels that the re- sponse to this opportunity will con- tinue to increase the literary quality of The Rdiei Society Magazine and will aid the women of the Church in the development of their gifts in cre- ative writing.
The General Board congratulates the prize-winning contestants and expresses appreciation to all whose work was entered in the contest. Sincere gratitude is extended to the three judges for their discernment and skill in selecting the prize-win- ning stories. The General Board also acknowledges v^th appreciation the work of the short story commit- tee for their supervision of the con- test.
Stories, together with photographs of the award-winning contestants, will appear in the Magazine as fol- lows: January 1946, ''Spring Festi- val" by Mary Ek Knowles; February 1946, 'The Ring of Strength" by Alice Morrey Bailey; March 1946, "All Is Known" by Irva Pratt An- drus.
[jPrize- vi/inning (btory
^yinnual iKeUef Society Snort Story (contest
First Prize Story
Spring Festival
Mary EJc Knowles
IT was Josef Straubel's fiftieth birthday, but he had forgotten all about that. As he stood on the corner of Main and Second Street waiting for his bus, his mind was troubled with last minute anx- ieties concerning the Spring Festi- val which was to be presented at eight o'clock that evening.
Again he went over the program, his head moving slowly from side to side like a metronome as mentally he checked off each act. The kinder- garten class— A Spring Flower Gar- den . . . first grade— Presenting Robin Red Breast . . . second grade . . . anc^ so on down the program to seventh grade— Violin Solo— Mendelssohn's "Spring Song"— Greta Johanson.
The program must be a success! Mr. Jessop and Mr. Bard of the school board were going to be there. Maybe if they saw how hard everyone had worked to make the Festival a success despite the handicap of only an antiquated gymnasium in which to present the program, they would see that Lincoln School got an audi- torium.
Doubts chilled Josef. The red velvet curtains donated by Mrs. O'Toole were very heavy. Would the wire stretched across one end of
MARY EK KNOWLES
the gym hold! The spotlight— pray that Benny Lee controlled the imp in him, and kept it trained on the stage. Would the audience grow tired sitting on the backless bench- es? What if the fifth grade a cap- pella choir sang off key. And Greta Johanson— could he depend on her or would the weakness he had de- tected in her character betray them at the last moment!
Page 13
14 RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
So Josef worried, and then sud- The man stopped and looked back,
denly a warm breeze caressed his Josef hurried forward, smihng.
cheek, and, rising above the confu- "Henry, you old culprit! How
sion of the busy street, the smell of are you?"
oil and gasoline, there was the scent Henry Biglow frowned down at
of hyacinths. A crowded bus parked Josef, ignoring the outstretched
at the curb whizzed away and for a hand. Then, slowly, recognition
moment Josef's view was unob- dawned, and he started to laugh,
structed. Across the street was the softly at first, then a roaring laugh so
public square, like a painting done that people turned and stared,
in water colors, hyacinths, lacy maple "J^sef Straubel! What are you
trees, a flowering almond bush, a doing in Sanford?"
golden forsythia, bright as sunshine. 'Tm teaching music at Lincoln
Josef breathed deep and his blood School."
tingled. It was spring again. The 'In the slums! Why, the last time
opening bars of ''Spring Song"— I saw you, you were all set with a
pianissimo, and with much expres- scholarship at Boston Conservatory
sion— danced through his brain. One of Music. What happened?" hand fell to his side, his fingers
drummed out the notes on his trou- TOSEF did not answer. He re-
ser leg. ^ membered the scholarship, and
In that moment Josef felt that the how young and eager he had been,
Festival would be a success. Lincoln and the memory was like the sweet
School would get its auditorium, strains of some forgotten melody.
His heart was singing the ''Spring How to tell Henry Biglow that an
Song" now, his fingers moving rap- undersized kid in a ragged, striped
idly, crescendo, fortissimo . . . jersey had changed his plans. A
A shiny black car drove up to the skinny kid saying, "Mr. Straubel, curb and blotted out spring. A tall, you ain't goin' away, are yu?" heavy-set man got out. He slammed "Still the idealist, aren't you?" the car door, and gave clipped orders Henry's laugh cut deep, and his small to his chauffeur. Then he turned, black eyes missed nothing. He took Josef saw his face, and his memory his hand out of his pocket, and Josef fumbled around like fingers search-- saw the diamond on his little finger ing for the right key on the piano, sparkle. "Well, I'm still the hard- There was something familiar about headed realist. Get what I nmean? the thin-lipped mouth, the square 'Bye!" Still laughing, he pushed his jaw. way through the crowd.
The man pushed his way through Yes, Josef "got" what his former
the crowd like a football player car- classmate had meant. "You be an
rying the ball. Josef's memory found idealist," Henry used to say in those
the right key, and the note was clear college days. "I'll be a realist, and
and true. Henry Biglow! Forward we'll see who comes out on top."
on the Camden University team, Josef winced as he remembered
class of 1914! the scorn in Biglow's voice. Some-
"Henry!" Josef called. "Henry how he had never thought of his life
Biglow!" in terms of failure or success. Time
SPRING FESTIVAL
15
had passed so rapidly, days into weeks, weeks into months, and sud- denly there were years, thirty of them. He remembered then that today was his birthday and he was fifty years old.
He saw his reflection in the plate glass of the hotel door. It was not reassuring. He saw a short fat man in a shabby black suit, the jacket of which was stretched almost to the breaking point so that the top but- ton could be buttoned. A gray felt hat of ancient vintage was perched atop his head. Under his left arm he carried a portfolio full to burst- ing. His right hand toyed with a fraternity pin dangling from the watch chain looped across his vest.
He heard someone say, ''There's the Willowcreek bus now!" He re- membered the Spring Festival and that if he missed this bus he would have to wait a half hour for another. He ran for the bus.
Josef Straubel lived at No. 7 Gun- nel Court. The advertisement had described the house as within easy walking distance of town, furnished. Josef, the graduate, had found the rent cheap, the house a two-room frame, small, but with a bit of re- arranging, large enough for his baby grand piano, his books and his music. Plenty good enough to live in for the short time until he went to Bos- ton. He had paid a month's rent in advance. He had stayed thirty years.
The light was on, and when Josef opened the door and walked into the small crowded front room, Mrs. Hennessey, his landlady, came out of the tiny kitchen, a spoon in her hand, a starched percale apron cov- ering her ample form.
"Hope you don't mind my just
barging in like this,'' she said, "with you gone and all. But it was getting late, and I knew you'd be rushed, what with your big program and all, so I come over and brought you a bit of stew and a piece of rhubarb pie."
'That was very kind of you!" Warmth for Mrs. Hennessey with her friendly manner, and her gray hair crimped about her big face, filled him. He had a sudden impulse to tell Mrs. Hennessey what Henry Bigelow had said. After all he had known her for thirty years.
He would tell her and she would say, "Well, the high and mighty, who does he think he is, anyhow!" And they would laugh, and the feel- ing that swept over him like nausea every time he remembered what Henry had said would go away. He opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again. He just wanted to for- get the whole thing. He laid his portfolio on the grand piano, tossed his hat on a chair.
''Come, eat up, now," Mrs. Hen- nessey said as she walked back into the kitchen. "Get the food while it's hot!"
JOSEF saw that Mrs. Hennessey had straightened the lean-to kitchen, washed the breakfast dishes and set the narrow table. He went to the sink, ran water into the enam- el basin, and washed his hands and face.
"I ironed your shirt, but I told Pa, 'Hennessey,' I said, 'how much longer Mr. Straubel thinks this shirt'll last I don't know.' Had to patch it again on the elbow. And your suit! It's that shiny in the seat!"
Through the mirror Josef saw her
16
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
stand with hands on her broad hips. "Grew Brothers are havin' a sale this week. Good white shirts $1.97 and suits $25.89. Whyn't you let me buy you some clothes? You only have to pay five down and five a month."
Josef suppressed a groan. Money, money! Somehow he never had enough to go around. This month he'd be lucky if he had enough left over to pay his rent and buy food. There was the bill at Kendall Music Company, the last payment on the loan at Friendly Credit. He smiled ruefully at himself in the mirror and the lines at the corners of his mouth deepened.
'Til have to do that, Mrs. Hen- nessey. One of these days Fll have to do that."
"And where have I heard that be- fore!" Mrs. Hennessey threw a jacket around her shoulders, and her face was red. ''It's just about time, Josef Straubel, that you started thinkin' of yourself for a change. So all-fired generous with them students of yourn. And do they appreciate it! Mark my words, someday you'll be sorry you was such a soft touch!"
"Next month, Mrs. Hennessey. Next month I'm going to outfit my- self like a dude. You'll see!"
"Well-we'll just see." Mrs. Hen- nessey hesitated, her hand on the front doorknob, her voice gentler. "Hope your program goes off all right, and you get your auditorium."
"Thank you, Mrs. Hennessey."
Left alone, Josef stood in the cen- ter of the room and looked around him. The room seemed to have shrunk in size. The piano took ' almost half the space. Everywhere were books, filling the three-shelf bookcase, piled on top, stacked on
the floor in the comer. Music was piled on the piano— music for oper- ettas, choruses, a half-completed Christmas cantata. Photographs of former students were hung on the wall above the piano.
Somewhere among the clutter was a letter informing Josef Straubel that he had won a scholarship. He had placed it there that spring day long ago. He had come home from school with Eddie Thompson's words ringing in his ears, he had thought, Fll stay on at Lincoln just long enough to help straighten Ed- die out.
Thirty years, he thought, and this is all I have. This and a pile of debts, a worn suit and a patched shirt.
It was so still that the ticking of the clock on the wall sounded loud. He remembered the Spring Festival. If only Lincoln got its auditorium, then it would be as if the days and weeks and months of that thirty years were blended into a trium- phant song.
"lATHEN he reached Lincoln School, the lights were on, and cars were parked on both sides of the street for blocks. All the fears came back, and he hurried through the side door, down the long hall that smelled of chalk and that oil peculiarly like citronella. He op- ened the door of room one. Paper- clad children rushed to him.
"Here's Mr. Straubel now!"
Miss Deal smiled toothily. "They were afraid you might miss the bus!"
Josef saw Robin Red Breast, the members of the a cappella choir, the flower garden . . . but no Greta Jo- hanson.
"Where's Greta?" he asked.
SPRING FESTIVAL
17
Miss Deal looked worried. "I haven't seen her. It's getting late, too!"
He went to look for her, the ap- prehension within him deepening. He couldn't depend on her, then. All these months had been for noth- ing!
As he passed the music room, a voice called to him.
"Oh, here you are Greta!" Relief swept over him.
Greta held her violin tight in her hands. "Mr. Straubel, Fm scared. All those people out there, all those faces watching me. What if I forget the music, what if I play off key!"
So it was only stage fright. Josef looked at Greta's broad, pale face, saw the fear in her blue eyes. He saw, too, the new blue taffeta dress, obvi- ously homemade, yet covering so proudly the tall lanky body.
He took her hand in his. It was like ice. "Greta," he said kindly, "listen to me. I know what you can do. I know that you are going to forget everything but your violin and the song you want it to play. You're going to be a big success, Greta."
She looked at him for a long mo- ment, and seemed to draw strength from his words. She smiled. "I'll try awful hard, Mr. Straubel."
The small gym was so crowded that people were sitting in the win- dows, standing in doorways. He saw Mr. Jessop and Mr. Bard sitting on chairs right in front. Mr. Jessop looked over the crowd, then bent and whispered to Mr. Bard. This should convince them we need an auditorium, Josef thought.
He stood before the orchestra and raised his baton. He led them through the overture, held his breath
as two brown elves pulled back the red velvet drapes.
But the wire held firm, and for the next hour and a half Josef forgot himself, he forgot Henry Biglow. The show was going over. One by one the acts came on, did their parts, bowed their way out to enthusiastic applause. And soon it was the last act.
Greta Johanson stood before them, and as she played, Josef lis- tened with the critical ear of a mu- sician. He heard clear tone, a sure- ness of touch. But there was some- thing else, too, an emotion that was Greta's own, that something that no teacher, no matter how excellent, could give her.
He looked at Greta. There was something regal about the lanky fig- ure in the cheap dress. He remem- bered Greta as she was that day two years ago when he kept her after class.
"Don't you like music, Greta?" Her defiant attitude during class had been very noticeable.
"Music!" she sneered. Her child- ish face was thick with make-up, her hair a tangled mop, her clothes too tight, too short on her tall body.
JOSEPH had said nothing, but ^ sometimes when the orchestra was playing, he had seen a look in Gret- a's eyes. He once took his violin from the top of the piano and played a few bars of Schubert's "Serenade." Greta was at his side.
"That's what I wanna do," she choked. "Play the violin!"
'Then why don't you?"
"You kiddin'?" Her eyes filled with tears. "My old man ain't got enough money to feed us, let alone buy me a violin."
18
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
'1 have an inexpensive violin I could let you borrow, and I could give you the first lessons."
Josef came back to the present as "The Spring Song" ended with two perfectly blended chords played soft- ly. Since then there had been times when Greta had been unpredictable, unstable, but now he knew sudden- ly that she was going to be all right. There was a moment's hushed si- lence, then the audience burst into thunderous applause.
Josef arose, satisfaction for a job well done filling him. Lincoln would get its auditorium. He turned to see Mr. Jessop and Mr. Bard walking out the side door. People were filing out without so much as a backward glance. In a surprisingly short time, the crowd was gone, and Josef was alone standing by the pi- ano, his hand outstretched.
He sank down weakly on the pi- ano stool. He had been mistaken, then, and the program hadn't been a success. Even in this he was a fail- ure. Disappointment was like a heavy stone crushing him.
"Mr. Straubel, please!"
Josef turned. A woman stood be- side him. A red kerchief was tied over her head, a shabby black coat was draped on her tall form. Her work-worn hands were clasped tight before her.
"Oh-hello, Mrs. Johanson."
She spoke with a thick accent. "Mr. Straubel. I come to thank you. Tonight I sit there, I listen my Greta play, I think, so is she now, sweet and good, playing like a musician on the radio, yet. But so it was not always. How many nights I wait up, not knowing where is Greta—"
"Greta was never bad, Mrs. Jo- hanson," Josef defended. "It was
just that she had this restlessness, this— all she needed was to have that great energy directed into the right channels."
"Yah, I know! But nobody knew how to do it. Nobody but you—"
"I just loaned her my violin—"
"Nah! You not have one to loan. You buy her one."
"Such an inexpensive one!"
"You not foolin' me. Professor Lanz, he say it a good one. Yah, I know. To everyone else Professor Lanz is three dollars, to mine Greta fifty cents." Tears were running down her lined face.
Embarrassed, Josef looked away from her.
"Someday we pay you back, Mr. Straubel. But now— all I can give you is a mother's blessin'. God bless you, Mr. Straubel!" She turned and hurried out of the gymnasium.
Josef Straubel stared in the direc- tion in which she had gone. It was true, of course. For eighteen months he had been paying for her lessons. From the first he had known Greta had unusual talent. How could he see it go to waste? Since that day when little Eddie looked up at him so pleadingly, he had not been able to turn a gifted child away.
He had never tried to put the thought into words before, but now it came to him that the soul of a way- ward child was like music played in discord, but if the melody could be found, then it would be like a sym- phony. He thought of the different students he had known. "Incor- rigibles," he had heard them called. Never had he failed to reach them through music. Bob Ginsburg— the cornet had appealed to him. Marie Serpentine— the accordion for her. Sammy Lewis , . . Mose Washing-
SPRING FESTIVAL
19
ton. Mose had been a puzzler un- til Josef saw the look on his ebony face when the drummer went through his tricks. The money it had cost him, he had not missed.
A few minutes later he was walk- ing home through the spring night. "Josef Straubel/' he told himself, ''Henry Biglow was right. You're fif- ty years old, and a failure." But he didn't care. He knew that if he had his life to live over, he would do just as he had done. He was sorry about the auditorium, but somehow they'd manage. He knew the quiet peace of a man who has found his destiny.
It was late when he reached the small house. He turned the key in
the lock, opened the door. Lights flashed on, the night rang with cries of, "Happy Birthday!"
Josef stood quite still, his hand on the doorknob. He saw the faces of students, teachers, the smiling face of Mrs. Hennessey. On the kitchen table was a birthday cake, and gifts stacked high. Mr. Jessop and Mr. Bard came toward him smiling, and he knew that Lincoln School would get its auditorium. In that moment he would not have traded places with all the Henry Biglows in the world.
The little house was full, so full that it seemed the walls would burst, yet even so, not so full as Josef Straubel's heart.
Mary Ek Knowles of Ogden, Utah, is the wife of Roland C. Knovvles and the mother of three children. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Alma Ek of Merced, California. Mrs. Knowles has been writing professionally for a num- ber of years. Her story "The Gold Watch" won third prize in the 1942 Relief Society Short Story Contest. Three of her stories have placed in the Salt Lake Tribune Contest, one of them receiving first prize. In addition to local publica- tions, the literary work of Mrs. Knowles has appeared in magazines of national circulation and she is at present planning a novel. She is a member of the Ogden Twenty-third Ward choir and assists the literature class leader in Relief Society work.
There is in reahty no such thing as an unmusical person. Even the deaf feel vibra- tions. Some people have their feelings for music pent up in them, are musically tongue- tied, unable to produce a sound in key. Some people, when in the country, may not be aware that birds are singing, may not feel the romantic influence of music, and yet may have music within them needing only an awakening. — Anonymous.
Nicholas G. Smith — A Tribute
Eider Marion G. Romney Assistant to the Council of the Twelve
IN all my memory pictures of Nicholas G. Smith, there stands at his side Florence Gay Smith, his life's companion. They exempli- fied the Master's teaching, 'Tor this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh" (Matt. 19:5-6). From Salt Lake City to South Africa, from Southern California to the North- west and Alaska, at home and abroad, their lives ran together in an undivided current. Under their guidance, there developed in their home an unusually fine relationship between themselves as parents and their four sons. Rarely do parents enjoy the unrestrained confidence of their children as did they.
Nicholas shared with his wife and family the fullness of his rich life, and judged in the light of eternity, his life was rich indeed. All but eight of his adult years he spent fill- ing some major assignment in his Master's service. Often he had more than one such assignment at a time. Between thirteen and fourteen years he spent in the mission field; eigh- teen months as a high councilman; twelve and one-half years on the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association; twelve years as bishop of the Seven- teenth Ward; three years as Acting Patriarch to the Church; three years in the presidency of the Salt Lake Temple; and four and one-half years
Page 20
NICHOLAS G. SMITH
as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles.
As I think of this service, the 37th verse of the 13th chapter of First Nephi comes to my mind:
And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, (when the Book of Mormon should come forth) for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost: and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall pub- lish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.
The strength of his youth and the wisdom of his maturity he freely gave in publishing peace and declar-
NICHOLAS G. SMITH— A TRIBUTE 1\
ing tidings of great joy. The whole Surely he was of the blessed who are
purpose of his life was to assist in described as being ''beautiful upon
bringing forth Zion. And he endured the mountains." He and his family
to the end, which is the condition had before his passing, and his family
upon which the blessings of eternal now has, a sure hope that he shall
life and exaltation are predicated, be lifted up at the last day.
AFTER A WHILE
Maude Hatch Benedict
After a while when lessons are all learned And we no longer need this vale of tears, The dreads, the heartaches, suffered by all men Will lift like pearly dawn, to banish fears.
Thrown on the velvet blackness of the scroll God's hand will be revealed to startled gaze, As stars shine brightest in the deepest blue. The truth will gleam in radiance to amaze.
We then shall know how blinding griefs of ours Have seemed to pass unnoticed by his eye. The things we prayed and longed for most of all. Unanswered, unattained, we knew not why.
Perhaps his wisdom keeps from us today Our soul's desire, spoken or unexpressed. But we shall come to know his plans go on, And gratefully concede he knoweth best.
Life may not be God's greatest gift to man, The "after while" will prove, and we shall know The hand of death, though grim, sometimes conceals The fairest gift his mercy can bestow.
We cannot tear aside the screening veil, But when life's race is run, and tired feet Are come at last to rest, we then shall know The wisdom of his ways is love complete!
Drifting — Or Sailing To A Charted Course?
Leila Marler Hoggan JlJustrations hy Dora MarJer Williams
ARE you drifting on the sea of the years to us, and now stand as the hfe without compass, oar, or foundation of civil law. rudder? Do you think that Another eternal document that by some chance of fate your frail has come to us from the past for our craft will reach a safe harbor? The guidance and safety, is the Master's experience of all the years can hold Sermon on the Mount. Had man- out no such hope for you. kind but followed the light of this
Whatever course you travel, you divine beacon, probably we would
have no assurance of a satisfactory not have experienced the most cruel
journey and a safe arrival at your de- and devestating war of all time,
sired destination unless you have These inspired rules of life, these
some sort of guidance. fundamental truths, outline safe
Those going before us have paths that lead to a desirable desti- charted the seas and set signal lights nation. Is it not prudent that we on the rocky coasts. They have should follow them, that we should made beaten paths through the dark walk in the light of the torch of ex- forests and placed guideposts along perience to our own betterment? the highway of life. For hundreds of The past has endowed us with years civilization has been patrolling priceless gifts of achievement. All the roads that men's feet must travel, of the wisdom and the beauty and in order that humanity might have a the power that the centuries have ac- less perilous and a more comfortable cumulated has been poured into the journey. vast reservoir of common knowledge.
The high privileges and great ad- And the child of today has free ac-
vantages that we now enjoy were not cess to this golden store. Although
easily won. Many of them have these blessings are free to all men,
come to us over the altar of sacri- we can claim them only through our
fice. Men have literally gone personal effort,
through fire and blood and death to We have to dig and delve to se-
remove barriers to progress and to cure the gold that is hidden in the
establish the light of truth. dark recesses of the earth. Other
Among the unforgettable ideals treasures are acquired in a similar
that have helped to shape the course manner. We must pay the price if
of man's destiny, are the rules that we would receive the reward. We
Moses brought to the Children of cannot drift with the tide and yet
Israel. Graven on tablets of stone hope to reach the harbor of our
by a divine hand, they come down dreams. If we desire to enjoy the
Page 22
DRIFTING— OR SAILING TO A CHARTED COURSE
23
rich heritage that hfe holds in store for us, we may be sure we shall have to follow a charted course to a def- inite goal. Obedience to accepted rules of conduct saves us from be- coming human driftwood.
A long time ago Confucius de- clared that ''Personal character can only be established on fixed prin- ciples.'' And Aristotle asserted, ''Freedom is obedience to self-formu- lated rules."
I
T is true that "we can write our own price-tags." But we cannot give ourselves double promotions un- less we are able to pass the tests. The germs of truth and beauty that lie dormant within us will come to a full flowering only through study, prayer, work, and suffering. Honesty and integrity, courage and reliability, do not come by chance. Like other worth-while characteristics, they are developed through cultivation and training. We have to live the law to obtain the blessing. Our loved poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote:
Who sows in weakness cannot reap in strength,
That which we plant we gather in at length.
You can be your own worst enemy or your own best friend. Don't be wheedled into wrecking your own life. It is lack of ambition that lets today's convenience outweigh to- morrow's development. Why per- mit yourself to drift with the tide and be tossed about by the fitful winds of circumstances like a scrap of bleached deadwood? If you find that your impulses are carrying you downstream, let judgment grasp the oars and reverse the course of your sailing. "Make yourself responsible for yourself," urges a modern di- vine. We can spend our days loiter- ing listlessly along in the lowlands of life or we can lift ourselves to the stars.
In charting our course of action, let us accept the guidance that the wisdom of the years provides. Whether our journey be short or longer, we can make life richer, more radiant, and altogether more satisfy- ing, if we work with a purpose to- ward a definite achievement.
24 RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
And be assured we are never alone small voice of the Spirit/' which the
in our efforts; for now, as always, Master said would guide us unto all
''God helps those who help them- truth. The person who holds daily
selves." No matter what other guid- communion with the Most High is
ance we accept, let us so live that we sustained and directed by the great
may always be able to hear "the still, est power in the universe.
ELIJAH
Alice Money Bailey
— 1— TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH
Elijah's hour was near, his years bent low.
Though yet he walked with God in faith. The birds
Had fed him in the wilderness. So runs
This ancient drama— told in ancient words.
Elisha walked beside him as he went,
And out of every town came bold men— young—
And asked him: "Knowest thou his hour is come?"
He answered: "Yea! I know it. Hold thy tongue!"
And when Elijah bade him: "Tarry here,
I pray thee, for the Lord hath sent me on."
He answered: "As He liveth, and as lives thy soul,
I will not leave thee! But ere thou hast gone
GiwG me of thy spirit— much— a double share."
Through all these hallowed towns they walked:
Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho— beyond
The Jordan's flood. As they went on— and talked
Behold there came a chariot of fire,
And fiery steeds— and they were thrust apart.
Elijah, spared the bitterness of death,
Went up to heaven in a whirlwind's heart.
—2—
THE VISION
Thus is he a link of death and life— Eternally of both— of heaven, earth. He is the key, long chosen, fitted, forged
ELIJAH 25
To turn our hearts to them who gave us birth. The centuries roll away, and time is full, Cumorah's hill yields up its plates of gold. The heavens burst upon a waiting world And angels come to fill a promise old. Once again men build a house to God; A prophet and his aide kneeling in prayer— Before their eyes a glorious vision shines And Jesus stands before this righteous pair. His eyes are as a flame of fire— as snow His hair— his face shines brighter than the sun— His feet rest on an amber work of gold— The voice of God as rushing water comes. "1 am the Hist and ]ast***and he who lives, And who was slain— your brother. J espouse Your cause heioie the throne. Your sins are gone. My name is here***and I accept this house."
-3- THE KEYS
He is gone, and in his place is ( ne Who gathered Israel out of Egypt's hold; Now this same Moses comes and brings the keys To gather Israel out of all the world. He is gone. Elias comes— who stood Transfigured with the Savior up on high— And brings a dispensation's key, that men And nations will be blessed. The time is nigh; The great and dreadful day is at the door. Foretold by Malachi, Elijah comes. Lest all the earth be smitten with a curse. To touch a kinsman's bond in fathers, sons.
* * jjc * >!t *
A hundred years and more have passed since then; His spirit moves on men in every land, Regardless of their birth and heart and creed; Their books and records mount as he has planned. Baal and Jezebel and Ahab— all are gone. Now, lest an altar drown in sloth and shirk, May Elijah's hand stretch forth in power And kindle into flame desire to work!
Unceasing Crusade
The National Foundation For Infantile Paralysis
THE prayers of the nation for those stricken in infantile pa- ralyses epidemics are an- swered each January by millions of Americans through the March of Dimes. America's record contribu- tions to the 1945 appeal of the Na- tional Foundation for Infantile Pa- ralysis poured new strength into the crusade against the Great Crippler.
Poliomyelitis, merciless enemy of both adults and children, claimed more than 13,000 victims in this country last year, fourth worst polio year on record. Epidemics raged in Tennessee, Utah, Illinois, New York, and Montana, while outbreaks of the disease occurred so generally that 26 states reported more cases than in 1944, worst year since 1916.
The National Foundation for In- fantile Paralysis, with its local chap- ters throughout the country, joined forces with local and state health authorities to combat polio wher- ever it struck.
Living up to its pledge that "no victim of polio shall go untreated for lack of funds, regardless of age, race, creed or color," the National Foun- dation sent nearly $1,000,000 in emergency aid to epidemic areas, supplementing the dwindling funds of local chapters.
Poliomyelitis is one of the most expensive diseases known to medi- cine. Many victims of past epidemics must receive continuing care, some- times for several years. Each year's outbreaks add new names to the steadily growing list. Hospitalization for a single patient costs more than Page 26
$2,500 per year. Very few family budgets can stand such a strain.
Eight years ago, the late Franklin D. Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in fulfillment of the growing need for an organized fight against polio and a 'general staff" to direct that fight. Basil O'Connor, personal friend and former law partner of Mr. Roosevelt, has been the Foundation's president since its formation.
Before the National Foundation was launched, infantile paralysis was considered a "local affair." From the most isolated farm to the largest city, men, women, and children of- ten had to fight the disease with in- adequate resources.
Today, a national network of local Foundation chapters stands ready to combat polio wherever it appears and to provide continuing care for patients from former outbreaks.
Each chapter, wherever it may be, has the total backing of the National organization. Last summer a Ten- nessee chapter desperately needed an "iron lung." The National Foun- dation had one flown from New York City^
North Carolina chapters needed funds to provide care and treatment for scores of patients stricken during the Hickory epidemic of 1944. The National Foundation last year sent more than $200,000 to North Caro- lina for that purpose.
Rockford, Illinois, was the center of a serious epidemic last summer. Stephenson County in the same state was badly hit. The Foundation last
UNCEASING CRUSADE
27
year advanced more than a quarter million dollars in epidemic aid to local chapters in that state.
Action and aid in epidemics are the more obvious and dramatic as- pects of the National Foundation's work. Everyone who has seen a polio outbreak knows this part of the or- ganization's work. But there is an- other, less spectacular and less fa- miliar, aspect: science.
The Foundation, in its eight-year history, has appropriated $7,673,113 for scientific work: for research to- ward the goal of a preventive and a cure for infantile paralysis, for the training of physicians, nurses, physi- cal therapists, medical social workers and others in modern methods of treating and helping polio victims, for a broad program of education— a never-ending campaign to give the
facts about polio to the people of America.
The fight is costly and grows more costly as the National Founda- tion expands all phases of its activi- ties and meets the cost of polio epi- demics.
Of all contributions in any county to the annual March of Dimes con- ducted by the Foundation, half is re- tained by the local chapter for spe- cial equipment, hospitalization, transportation, treatment and care of polio patients. The other half goes to the national organization for re- search, education, and emergency aid in epidemics.
Standing ready to give battle on every sector of the polio front, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis is a vital weapon of the working people— a weapon against the common enemy, poliomyelitis.
Margaret Cummock Pickering
(Continued from page 5) As I look back over the years, I re- member Margaret as a charming, vi- vacious, and lovable young girl. She was wholesome and interesting. She was full of life and zest. She had
then, as she has now, an unusually attractive personality. She was ad- mired and loved by all her associates. She was beautiful in appearance then, as a girl, and she is beautiful now as a woman.
THE WEIGHT OF YOUR CLOUD
Edna S. Dustin
The weight of your cloud is far away
Until it shadows you.
Then it's as near as it seemed far,
Its weight can crush you where you are
If you let it; its strong folds
Can strangle you with talon holds.
The weight of your cloud is far away
Unless it shadows you. It may shrink your vision to somber light; Your soul will expand as far as your sight; Though it's as near as it seemed far, You still can't touch it where you are. The weight of your cloud is far away Unless it shadows you.
Mormonism in the Eyes of the Press
Elder James R. Clark
Brigham Young University Copyright 1946
1 -DOLLY MADISON AND THE OUTCAST MORMONS
(First installment of a series of articles on early Latter-day Saint history)
P
RESIDENT J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., recently said in a conference address :
... in this crisis we turn to the women of the earth ... to save us men from our- selves. So it has been, in reality, in every great world crisis, however much it may ha\e seemed otherwise.
This statement recalled to my memory a bit of forgotten Mormon history of nearly one hundred years ago.
It was October 1847. The Mor- mons had been driven out of Illinois and across the neighboring states to the West. Some of them had reached the Great Salt Lake and established new homes. Countless other thousands were still homeless in Iowa. These were faced that win- ter with some of the same problems that the millions in Europe face this winter of 1946— lack of food, lack of shelter, and lack of clothing.
They, too, in 1847, had just escaped from armed conflict. What was to be done? Who would step forward and alleviate the suffering of these thousands in the "wilderness of the Far West?" Who was to bind up the wounds of war? Was there no one in the nation who would cham-
Poge 28
pion the cause of the unpopular Mormons?
Yes. A great metropolitan news- paper owner, James Gordon Ben- nett, the same who sent Stanley to rescue Livingston, became the Mor- mon champion. While Bennett was lending the weight of his powerful New York Daily Herald to the cause, in Washington, D.C., the women of the capital led by Dolly Madison, wife of James Madison, ex-president of the United States, and Mrs. James K. Polk, the first lady of the land, were united in raising funds for the outcast Mormons.
The New York Herald for Octo- ber 29, 1847, said:
The Ladies' Tea-Party for the Benefit ot the Moimons
The ladies' tea party for the relief of the 1,500 Mormons in the wilderness of the Far West, was opened this evening at Carusi's, and a most successful opening it was.
We shall have something to say about it to-morrow. Suffice it for the present, that the ladies of all denominations, all over the city, headed by the mayor and the clergy went heart and hand into the work. The venerable Mrs. ex-president Madison, Mrs. Polk, Mrs. General Ma- comb, and many others of the most influ- ential and highly respected and most beau-
MORMONISM IN THE EYES OF THE PRESS
29
tiful of the metropolis, were united in this benevolent enterprise; and when we come to detail the labors and persevering spirit of these ladies, their exertions and their contributions for the poor outcast Mor- mons, wherever there is a heart to feel, and a head to appreciate true charity, the story when it reaches them, will be as cheering as the sunshine of a spring morn- ing.
James Gordon Bennett, the next day, reproduced a copy of the admis- sion ticket, and pubhshed a long edi- torial in which he said:
But there is a religious altar, and a sacred fire, that still exist, even among the Aztecs, transmitted from the creation to every race under the sun. It burns every- where, but the brightest where the Bible is best understood, and in the heart of the Christian woman its flame glows with the lustre of the morning star, where the snows and desolations of winter cover all the land.
A fortnight since, Mr. Dana came to this city (Washington) and asked for help for the suffering Mormons driven off into the uninhabited wilds of Iowa. A call for a public meeting signed by all the leading ministers of all the religious denominations of the city was published. The meeting was accordingly held; but prejudice was strong and public charity had well nigh exhausted itself in the relief of the famine stricken Irish, and in assistance to the poor around us. But, at the suggestion of the worthy mayor, whose heart, as Father Tay- lor said of Commodore De Kay, "is as big as the moon and as open as a sunflower," another meeting was called, and commit- tees were chosen for the collection of sub- scriptions. But this was an expedient which promised no satisfactory return; and the case and the cause were surrendered to the ladies, just with the same confidence that the storming of Chapultepec was committed to the chosen troops of Gen. Worth. Whatever plan they might adopt, it was impossible that they could fail. That word fail is ''an obsolete idea" with the sex, when they hear the cry for bread from a famishing people, their motto is, we must help them; and they straightway set to work about it.
So they did in this case. Prejudice was against them. The Mormons, by many persons, are regarded as a miserable, de- graded gang of outcasts, not entitled to the common sympathies of humanity. But the ladies of Washington ruled that these peo- ple were entitled to relief, and that they must have it. Accordingly, the Benevolent Society held several prehminary meetings at the house of Mrs. Reed, late of Mississ- ippi, a daughter of General Duff Green, residing now on C Street; and the result of these deliberations was a resolution for a tea party. So a few mornings since, a large number of delegates, appointed by said society, sallied out to canvas the city, for the distribution, at fifty cents each, of the following ticket of admission . . . and so last night the affair came off; the house was full — a refined and benevolent audi- ence. The ticket secured a dish of coffee or tea of the best; the extras were oysters in every style, meats and confectionary, and bouquets. The dispensers of these things were among the best and most elevated and beautiful of the metropolis. Then, at intervals, we had the music of the marine band and the songs of the European Min- strels, a new company of singers, with Mr. T. V. H. Crosby at their head. Then there was a promenade in progress all the time, and from first to last the entertainment was elegant and agreeable to young and old of all sexes, ages and denominations.
Mrs. Ex-President Madison, that good and venerable lady, was a contributor, and, but for indisposition, would have been present last night to have parcelled out that large cake which contains the magic gold ring. In her absence, the office was awarded unanimously to Mrs. General Ma- comb, always active in any work of char- ity; but the division of the cake was re- served for this evening.
Mrs. President Polk, never forgetful of the claims of the destitute, sent down a number of rare bouquets, and a liberal sup- ply of confectionary, including a cedar tree hung full of French candies, kisses and sug- ar plumbs. No such fruit as that grows in the gardens of Jalapa. Mrs. P. has been suffering from the chills, or she would have given the party a call during the evening.
While this tea party and the pub- licity it received in the New York
30 RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
Herald may not have greatly altered from the famous Dolly Madison and
Mormon history, the fact that it re- from the "First Lady of the Land,"
mains unrecorded in Mormon his- Mrs. James K. Polk, should cause the
tory books may cause us to fail to ap- women of Mormondom to be proud
preciate the fact that there were that it was those of their sex who
champions of the Mormon cause reached out the hand of charity
outside the Church even in the dark- when all others had refused or failed,
est hours of 1847, and the fact that So: ''In times of crisis we turn to
this sympathy and support came the women of the earth."
SHOPPING FOR A DOLL
Hazel Jones Owen
I started out early to shop for a doll- It must be the dearest and sweetest of all. I searched every store, seeking my prize, But I couldn't decide on the color of eyes.
And should it have golden or dark brown hair? (What kind of clothes, I didn't much care) Should each little cheek have a dimple in? Or should it have one dimple just in its chin?
I wearied of searching and looking about. And quite faint heartedly went home without The doll I so eagerly set out to find Because I just couldn't make up my mind.
That night as I sat by her wee little bed,
A faint light shining on her tousled head,
I wondered, dear Lord, did you have such a time
In choosing this loveliest baby of mine?
Let Us Fittingly Mark the Land
Eider Howaid R. Driggs (Prepared at the Request of the Church Beautification Committee)
RETURNING from our old home town of Pleasant Grove to Salt Lake City the other day, we saw an out-of-state car paus- ing before the roadside marker the Highway Commission has built to tell of the first battle of the pioneers with the Indians in Utah. Again, as we rounded the 'Toint of the Moun- tain," we observed another such car parked at the monument built by members of the adult Aaronic priest- hood to commemorate the Pony Ex- press. As the children in the party were reading the story on the bronze plaque, the father was taking a snap- shot. Vivid memories of the first fast mail of the West, these young Americans would carry away to their home and schools.
A letter from a dear old friend from Ohio was awaiting me when we reached our apartment. In part it read:
I recall with a great deal of happiness our trip to the top of the Big Mountain and then down into the Valley following the route of the famous migration, and am glad to know that an appropriate me- morial is to be erected. A nation without monuments, memorials and shrines is one without worth-while history.
What makes travel interesting? Impressive scenery, yes; well-kept homes and farms, certainly; well- bred folk, of course. Yet, added to all this, is another thing that gives spiritual meaning to any trip. That is drama. People love to linger around places where things of import
have been enacted. Precious land- marks and story spots lure travelers to linger and learn.
Our National Capital with its throbbing activities is ever a place of a thousand attractions. It is there one may feel the pulse of the whole world. Yet most folk who visit the city are likely to remember best and longest— if they have the privilege— the trip down the quiet old Potomac to the home and the tomb of Wash- ington. And all who go there are profoundly grateful that a patriotic group of Americans preserved in its beauty and storied significance the sacred shrine— Mount Vernon.
Likewise are visitors to Philadel- phia filled with gratitude that old Independence Hall, the home of Betsy Ross, and other shrines have been saved. We are deeply indebt- ed, also, to those who have kept for us such historic landmarks as Old South Church, Paul Revere's home in Boston, the Alamo in San An- tonio, Sutter's Fort in Sacramento. And our hearts go out always to the group of surveyors of the Burlington Railroad, who, finding the tire- marked grave of Rebecca Winters on the Mormon Trail, changed the sur- vey to let this pioneer mother rest in peace.
These sacred shrines, we should remember, do not save themselves. Nor do the old trails, where "Pil- grim feet— a thoroughfare for free- dom beat across the wilderness," mark themselves. Someone has to
Page 31
32
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL, PLEASANT GROVE, UTAH
The wing at the left was built in part from the adobes used in the first Pleasant Grove schoolhouse built in 1852. The building is now used as a Hall of Memories by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and the centerpiece of a park dedicated to these na- tion builders.
take the initiative in this labor of love. Others of kindred spirit must join in the work. And such patriotic service is done not merely to remem- ber the past; it is ever for the living present and the future.
Our West, like other realms in their youthtime, has been somev^hat slow in conserving its wealth of his- torical resources. Old things that seemed to be in the path of pro- gress have often been not only neg- lected, but at times ruthlessly cleared away for more modern, less significant creations. This is not only unsound patriotism, but poor business.
Let us face for a moment the sug- gestion that there is real money value in storied landmarks. The writer once asked of the late curator of Sutter's Fort— who had helped to change a run-down story spot to one
of historic attractiveness— ''How many out-of-town visitors registered at this old Fort last year?"
''Considerably more than 100,000," was the reply.
"How much money, would you estimate, did each visitor leave in this city?"
"That would be difficult to say; but certainly $5.00 each would be conservative."
"What other business in this town brings in as much outside mon- ey?" was a final question.
A PPLY this to the throng of tour- ists attracted into Salt Lake City by reason of its historical and other attractions, or put the test to other cities that have kept their storied shrines. Whatever may be the con- clusions as to the amount of money that comes from a proper preserva-
LET US FITTINGLY MARK THE LAND
33
tion of such resources, it must be agreed that they pay richly for the effort. Any community that fails to keep and develop its historical heri- tage is financially short-sighted.
There is, however, a deeper rea- son for doing so. That is the pres- ervation and development of the character of the community. In the lives of our pioneers is a spiritual force to be treasured and perpetu- ated. Through the proper saving of the storied places that vibrate their spirit— the marking of the trails they made historic— we keep reminders of their sterling worth. To appreci- ate the worthy past is to fortify the future.
Not all landmarks, of course, are worth saving. Those that do ex- emplify the sturdy virtues of our nation-builders— that are filled with cherished memories— are priceless. There should ever be discrimination in this work— selection and develop- ment, to conserve historical monu- ments and to make them education- ally attractive and upbuilding.
It is a pleasure here to commend the town of my birth— Pleasant Grove. Through the devoted work of the Daughters of the Pioneers there and the understanding help of the city officials, the old schoolhouse has been preserved as a monument to the pioneers, and the lot on which
PRESIDENT GEORGE ALBERT SMIIH AT TR.\PPERS' RENDEZVOUS,
BEAR LAKE Photograph by John D. Giles, taken in August 1937.
34
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
it stands made a park dedicated to their memory. Plans are to develop this story spot, with the city. Daugh- ters and Sons of the Pioneers, and the schools co-operating, into a fine memorial. Here is a pattern which other communities might follow in their own fine ways with profit.
What has gone into the building of a town or state makes its character —gives it individuality. Communi- ties that treasure their fine tradi- tions, that preserve landmarks and relics to keep the courageous past alive and vibrant, stand out for all who live there or who visit them. Places that become merely a collec- tion of houses and stores and service stations are passed by unremem-
bered. It should be the pride of every town to develop its individual- ity. Certainly one of its storied buildings should be made a hall of memory— and it should have at least one block dedicated to the heroic men and women who gave their lives to the founding of the community. Another vital point: See that the historic trails that lead to your town arc interestingly marked. Every com- munity is linked with some such storied highway or byway— trails of the Indians, the pathfinding trap- pers, the pioneers. Many of these faded trails are in danger of oblivion. Here is challenging activity for young scouts, older ones who remember, and others, to reclaim a heritage and
'"■^
RECLAIMING A PONY EXPRESS STATION, "PASS" (DRY STATION)
IN THE UTAH DESERT
LET US FITTINGLY MARK THE LAND
35
add to the attractiveness of the town and to travel.
An awakening has come along these vital lines over the land. Many commendable things have already been accomplished by devoted, clear- seeing leaders in marking the trails and story spots, in developing way- side rests where travelers may linger and learn. Much more can be done. America is already again on the move. Years ahead will see throngs traveling. What is needed right now is well-directed, co-operative ef- fort to help make this travel more fruitful— more intelligent, more spiritually uplifting.
Why not center our efforts on teaching America? Why not do more to lure the speeding folk to linger and learn the dramatic story of the old trails? Why not stir every community to rise to its best— to bring out its fine American tradition —its stirring pioneer story— its for- ward-looking history? , Nothing will do more for our country and the world than to keep alive the spirit of those who have given their all that this might be a land of freedom based on eternal righteousness. Op- portunity is before every communit}' to help impress this on the hearts of those who will follow our trails that lead by our doors.
PROMISE
Christie Lund Coles
The world will go on much the same
When I am gone. The night will come as stealthily
As will the dawn.
The silver evening, hushed and still.
Will be as sweet, And children's laughter will resound
Along the street;
But this awareness, wild in me.
As wind or bird, This sense of being, will it lie
With flesh, interred,
Within the earth that it has loved,
Beneath the sky That its proud heart could circumvent,
Must, must it die?
The spring in splendor will return
The bud, the leaf, I, too, will be aware again
Beyond all grid.
Sixti[ ijears J^go
Excerpts from the Woman's Exponent, January i, and January 15, 1886
"For the Rights of the Women of Zion and the Rights of the Women of All Nations"
In silence, and alone, I, watching, wait Something I have known is in departing, I listen for the iron tongue of Time To start the revealing requiem! — Hush! The clock, my timely monitor, strikes twelve. 'Tis the noon of night — the year is gone — Eighteen eighty-five is in eternity!
— Hannah T. King
THE DEATH OF THE YEAR: We are not entirely bereft of flowers. The modest daisy still lifts its unassuming head and offers a singularly vigorous resistance to the encroachments of King Frost; an occasional dandelion puts in a half-starv^ed appear- ance; a few clover blossoms even yet are warmed by the sunshine when it strikes some sequestered spot. ... As the days creep on, the trees and hedges become bare. ... All things tend to one common end. . . . Winter is coming with its sure and inevitable tread. The recurrence of the seasons to those who have the wisdom to learn, is not without profit; the return of each is a silent monitor which Infinite Goodness has set before the children of men to point a moral and so adorn the story of our lives as may fit us for the coming of that hour when we, too, shall fade as flowers — pass away unnoticed as a dry leaf in boundless forests — from among the habitations of the human race, and be hidden frpm memory's sight by the snows and frosts of time. — Wandering Boy.
WOMAN'S INFLUENCE: We are inclined to think but few women are aware of the influence which women might wield, were they disposed to labor more earnestly in that field in which the Creator has placed them, instead of reaching out to untried fields of labor for which nature has not qualified them. We believe a large majority of the women of the present day are willing to work in that sphere of usefulness which God in his wisdom assigned to them, and, in conclusion, we will say your mission is an high and honorable one; therefore "be not weary in well-doing." — Selected.
NEW YEAR THOUGHTS: As we pass from out the portals of the old year and pause upon the threshold of the new, . . . what a throng of busy thoughts sweep down upon the memory and imagination! The faded pictures of the past, the unfinished paint- ings of the present, the dim and dreamy outlines of the unattempted yet ever glorious limnings of the future. . . . Harvests already reaped, grain that is still growing, latent germs that lie sleeping under the surface of our lives, seeds of coming events which our busy hands are about to strew upon the fertile bosom of the future. — O. F. Whitney.
WEAVERS WE
Weavers we at the loom of Time,
Swift are our shuttles flying Warp and woof we're weaving fast,
Ever our life-task plying, In sunshine and shade, in pleasure and gloom, Weave we life's tissue on Time's busy loom.
— Selected.
Page 36
Woman's Sphere
Ramona W. Cannon
H
UNDREDS of tliousands of girls, the world over, are return- ing to their homes after giving mag- nificent service to their countries. With eyes more v^idely opened to the needs of daily living for the mul- titudes, and hearts more receptive to the hungers of the soul, they should prove as great an asset in peace as in war.
IDRITAIN'S only woman cabinet minister, 'Vee Ellen" Wilkin- son, Minister of Education, grew up in a home where the father never earned more than $16.00 per week. She acquired her education through scholarships, which, by the way, are becoming more and more available to Britain's humbly born. As a fiery Member of Parliament for Jarrow during the depression, she worked for prevention of starvation among her constituents. In 1942, during the Nazi raids, she was responsible for her country's civil defense, hav- ing supervision of more than two million paid and volunteer workers.
npO a German woman scientist. Dr. Liza Meitner, goes much of the credit for developing the method of splitting the atom and releasing atomic energy. Hitler was working desperately for the discovery of this knowledge and its use by the Nazis. But Hitler drove non-Ayran Dr.
Meitner out of Germany and she carried her secret with her.
TNEZ ROBB, writer for Internation- al News Service, was the only woman with the journalists who circled the globe on the inaugural round-the-world run of the Air Transport Command. In giant ''C-54's," they covered the 23,147 miles in six and one-fourth days.
PUBLISHED fifty years ago, Fan- nie Farmer's The Boston Cook- ing School Cook Book rates seventh among all-time best-selling books in America, printings to date being 2,461,000 copies. It is still in de- mand all over the world. The blind use it in a nineteen-volume Braille edition. A victim of two paralytic strokes, one at seventeen. Miss Farmer was always handicapped. She gave her last lectures in cooking from a wheel-chair. She is known as the mother of level measurements, in- stead of ''rounding" and ''heaping." Her cook book brought her from poverty to wealth.
TONATHAN M. WAIN- J WRIGHT wrote of the nurses who faced the fearful trials of Bat- aan and Corregidor so unflinchingly:
They had no training in pioneer hard- ship .... But their hearts were the same as those of the women of early America. Their names must always be hallowed when we speak of American heroes.
Page 37
EDITORIAL
VOL 33
JANUARY 1946
NO. 1
[Be I lot Vi/earii Un Vi/eu-Ujoing
'T^WO women stood talking togeth- er. The one said, ''Well, she is spending enough time working for the Church, I hope it is worth it." The other declared, ''I have been working in the Church for five years and now Fm going to take a rest."
In speaking to his servants in Sep- tember of 1831, the Lord said:
Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundations of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.
Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days (Doc. and Gov.
64:33-34)-
One of the most potent forces which a mother possesses in influ- encing the lives of her children to righteousness is the power of ex- ample which she sets her children by her daily living. She may not fully realize this as she lives out her crowded days, but when a beloved mother passes on to her reward, the memories of her which live on with her children and are treasured by them in the long days of separation, are the memories of the deeds of lov- ing service she showered on her fam- ily at all times, and the innumerable acts of kindness and service she ren- dered those outside her own home circle. Her children recall the tedi- ous hours she was wont to spend in making quilts, in cutting out and
Page 38
preparing intricate patterns to be appliqued on the quilts on sewing day in Relief Society, and the hours of service she gave after the meeting, in finishing the quilts. They remem- ber the times when she left her home to minister to the sick or visit with the homebound. They picture the happy afternoon socials she gave for a group of lonely sisters far from their families and homelands, and the remembrance of their smiling faces floods back to bring enrich- ment to the souls of her children.
The picture also comes to their minds of that same mother dressed in a beautiful evening gown as she left home to enjoy an evening in the home of friends. This picture, also, provides a fond memory, but does not carry the power to move her chil- dren to better or nobler living, as do the memories of the deeds of per- sonal kindness she extended to oth- ers. The pleasure of the one is transitory— as was the occasion to the recipient— while the recollection of the blessings she bestowed on the less fortunate of her friends lives on in the memory, and is nourished by the heartfelt words of appreciation for their mother which are spoken to them by others for years to come.
"Be not weary in well-doing," ad- monished the Lord. Do not labor unselfishly for others for a few months or even years and then de- cide that one has served long
EDITORIAL
39
enough, turning thereafter to the pursuit of one's own pleasure, and leaving to those who do not weary in well-doing future service for oth- ers. The benefits of such selfish liv- ing "shall melt away as the hoar frost melteth before the burning rays of the sun."
Blessed is the child who, in later years, has an anchor to his soul and an example to follow in the remem- brance of the life led by his mother —of a mother who extended her love to draw into the warmth of her friendship the poor, the lonely, and the friendless, who freely, through- out her entire life, gave of her own talents for the upbuilding of the Church she loved beyond all else.
And just as sure as one renders service to others, so sure will be the rewards which will follow. "Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days," said Ecclesiastes. "The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind," we of this day have been told with the promise, "and the willing and obedi- ent shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days." Certain- ly, to the mothers of Zion, one of the "good" things of the land of Zion for the willing and obedient will be the joy of seeing their children fol- lowing their example, working in the Church, and not becoming weary in well-doing.
M. C. S.
dioward o. 1 1 Lc^Jjonald cJ^naugurated [President
of iungham ijoung LLniversity
"IXTednesday, November 14, 1945, nal truth. President McDonald, in
Howard S. McDonald was in- accepting this charge, said that he
augurated president of Brigham visioned the Brigham Young Uni-
Young University. Against a back- versity as a great institution with
ground of snow-clad peaks, the aca- students from all sections of the
demic procession marched across the earth coming to learn the teachings
upper campus and entered the state- of their Church as well as to acquire
ly Joseph Smith Memorial Hall for knowledge in the regular academic
the traditional ceremony. The field.
principal address, delivered by Dr. Relief Society women throughout
Edwin A. Lee, dean of the school the Church are grateful for the
of education of the University of establishment of the Brigham Young
California at Los Angeles, stressed University and for the great and
the theme-'The Glory of God Is good men who have been called to
Intelligence"-and urged the young j^e its work. We are grateful that
people of today to develop spintual- ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^_
ity and brotherhood. Elder J. Reu- ben Clark of the First Presidency, in giving the charge to President McDonald, emphasized the fact that spiritual values must always take precedence over secular values, for the spiritual life is based upon eter-
ters have been privileged to partake of the spirituality and the vision which have characterized our Church university. President Belle S. Spafford represented the Relief Society at the inaugural ceremonies.
40 , RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
[Jjlanche Uj. Q>toaaara LKesigns as (general
Secretary 'cJreasarer
'T^HE General Board wishes to express appreciation for the faithful and devoted service of Blanche Black Stoddard as General Secretary-Treas- urer from May 22 to October 31, 1945. Because of increased home respon- sibilities, Sister Stoddard found it necessary to be reheved of the exacting duties of the secretarial office. However, she will continue to serve the Society as a member of the General. Board, where her devotion to Relief Society work, her charming personality, and her gift for leadership will be of great value to the women of the Church. For a biographical sketch and a photograph of Blanche Black Stoddard, see the Magazine for July 1945, page 403.
S^n 1 1 iemonam
tblaer Joseph ^. (^annon ana
iblaer Ujurton J\. cfarnswortn
'T^HE members of Relief Society throughout the Church pay tribute at this time to the service and accomplishments of two outstanding lead- ers—the counselors in the superintendency of the Y.M.M.LA.
Elder Joseph J. Cannon, first assistant general superintendent, died at his home in Salt Lake City, November 4, 1945, after an illness of several weeks. Throughout his life Elder Cannon was an ardent Church worker, serving as a missionar}- in Sweden, editor of the MiJJeniaJ Star, superintend- ent of the Ensign Stake Y.M.M.I.A., president of the British Mission, presi- dent of the Temple Square Mission, editor of the Deseret NewSj and author of religious dramas, and in 1937 he was appointed first counselor in the gen- eral superintendency of the Y.M.M.LA.. Members of the Relief Society will remember Elder Cannon particularly for his excellent reports on gen- eral conference sessions which have appeared from time to time in the Magazine. The sisters of Relief Society extend love and sympathy to Sister Cannon who assembles the interesting department, "Woman's Sphere."
Elder Burton K. Farnsworth, second assistant in the general superin- tendency of the Y.M.M.LA., passed away October 27, 1945, in Seattle, Washington, where he had gone to attend an M.LA. convention. Elder Farnsworth was a loving father, an effecti\e teacher, a dynamic leader, and an exemplar of the work and the faith of the Church. Born in Beaver, Utah, of pioneer parents, he became interested in education at an early age, se- cured his Ph.D. from the University of California, and became one of Utah's leading school officials and Church executives. We extend to Sister Farns- worth and the family our deepest sympathy in their loss, and our apprecia- tion for the good life of this Latter-dav Saint leader.
nojtM.
TO THE FIELD
(!:ymy Kyne uielief Society (general Cyonference cJo ioe cKela ibacn year
nnHE General Board announces, as of January 1946, the discontin- uance of the custom of holding two general Relief Society confer- ences each year. Beginning with the year 1946, only one general Relief Society conference will be held a year.
This action has been taken be- cause it is deemed inadvisable to re- quire the sisters to leave their homes and to spend the necessary money to make two yearly trips to Salt Lake City in the interest of Relief So- ciety, as it is felt that the program for the conference can be so ar- ranged that all needed instructions for departmental work and recom- mendations in all phases of Relief
Society work can be given at one general conference a year.
Since the educational program of Relief Society commences each Oc- tober and ends the last of May and Relief Society activities are modified in the summer months, it has been decided to hold the general Relief Society conference each year, begin- ning with 1946, in October— just prior to the semi-annual general con- ference of the Church.
In view of the fact that hereafter only one general Relief Society con- ference will be held a year, it is ex- pected that Relief Society officers will put forth every effort to be pres- ent at the October annual Relief So- ciety general conference.
IKelief Societif J^ssigned Evening 1 1 Lee ting of cfast Sunday Hn iHarch
npHE Sunday night meeting to be held on Fast Day in March 1946 has been assigned by the First Presidency for use by the Relief So- ciety.
General Board and will be sent to the stakes in bulletin form.
It is suggested that ward Relief So- ciety presidents confer with their bishops at once in regard to the con-
Suggestive plans for this evening ducting of this meeting by the Re- meeting are being prepared by the lief Society.
Page 41
Suggestions to Contributors
1. EDITORIAL POLICY
a. We reserve the right to edit all accepted manuscripts according to
the needs of the Magazine. Where the changes are slight, the con- tributor will not be contacted regarding them. However, where more important changes may be necessary, the author will be con- sulted whenever this is possible.
b. We do not solicit reprints and we publish material of this type only by special arrangements. Therefore, do not send us material of any kind which has been published or is in the hands of a publisher.
c. Payments are made on publication and, due to overstocked files, no
promises can be made as to when accepted manuscripts will be published. If an author wishes to have a manuscript, which has been accepted and is being held for publication, returned, he should request this to be done and enclose postage for return of the manuscript.
d. Seasonal material should reach us four to six months prior to pub- lication date.
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2. PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPTS
a. Manuscripts should be typed (double-spaced) on one side only of regulation 8^/^"xii" paper. Authors are asked to retain carbon copies of all manuscripts submitted to The Relief Society Magazine.
b. For submitting manuscripts it is convenient for authors to use envelopes of two sizes, the larger envelope for the outgoing manu- script and the smaller envelope, bearing the writer's name and address, for return in case the manuscript is not accepted. En- velopes designated in the stationer's trade as No. 8 and No. 9 are suitable for poems and short manuscripts. For stories and longer articles 6"x()" and 6y^"x9^/4" envelopes may be used.
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envelopes. Manuscripts, which must always be sent first class, re- quire (for the United States, Canada, and Mexico) three cents for each ounce or fraction thereof.
d. Conect spelling, paragraphing, and punctuation are definite aids in the acceptance of a manuscript.
e. All factual material should be carefully checked for accuracy. Page 42
SUGGESTIONS TO CONTRIBUTORS 43
3. CURRENT NEEDS
a. Stories, preferably short stories between 1500 and 3,000 words. Seri- als of eight to ten chapters of about 2,000 words each. For serials, sub- mit at first only chapters one and two and an outline of the remainder.
b. Articles, from 500 to 1500 words. Material should follow a definite outline with an interesting beginning and a logical sequence.
c. Poetry, of definite pattern in stanza, form, and meter. Since many of our poems are used as fillers, we can more readily accept short poems (4-12 lines) than longer contributions. The use of archaic words, inversions, and contractions should be avoided.
d. Photographs, glossy black and white, size 8"xio", suitable for cover or frontispiece.
KNOW A ROAD
VioJet Harris Hendrickson
I know a road
Running straight and true. Like a ribbon
Through towering pines. It goes to the east
To meet the sun. And west.
Where the day's death shines.
A high straight road
In the mountain tops Where the air
Is clean and clear, Where pine-fingers point
To a cobalt sky And heaven itself
Seems near.
A Christmas-tree lane
Under shining peaks With never a twist
Nor bend Where, after its toiling
And climbing. It leads us
To journey's end.
And For Eternity
Olive WooUey Buit
CHAPTER VIII
Synopsis
Delsa Marriott, trying to find a way to make her friends think that she is the one who has broken her engagement to Hugh Temple, who has asked to be released so that he can marry an Australian girl, shows an interest in Alec Windsor, a marine on furlough in the town. But when Alec asks Delsa to marry him, she remembers that he thinks of marriage as for time, only, while to her it means a contract for time and for eternity. Jeff Holden, the father of two children, has told Delsa he loves her, but she thinks he is merely lonely for his dead wife.
WHEN Delsa awoke the next morning, her purpose had crystallized. Without know- ing just how she had arrived at her decision, she nevertheless was abso- lutely sure of what she had to do.
It had happened, she knew, while she sat there on the ''thinking boulder" beside Alec. Perhaps it was thinking of time and eternity. She loved Hugh; she thought she had always loved him and always would love him— but her under- standing of that love had suddenly deepened. She knew now that it wasn't Hugh that she wanted "for time and eternity"— as her husband.
"Fve grown up!" she thought to herself, smiling a little wistfully in remembrance of the girl who had ridden off yesterday morning— the girl who was going to cling to her childhood sweetheart in spite of everything.
But when her ringless hand reached for the hairbrush and she
Page 44
realized what it meant and what she would have to do today, she hesi- tated. But only for a moment.
Shaking herself as she might shake a reluctant child, she thought. Be adult, Delsa! If you are ever going to do it, do it now— make a clean, sharp break and have it over with.
Later she added softly, ''Hugh will come back here with his wife and you can have his friendship, sweet and whole, if you do the right thing now. And if you never find the man with whom you wish to live forever and ever and ever— why, that is just your bad luck, Delsa."
She dressed carefully, wanting to look her best today, not wanting anyone to feel sorry for her or to think she was unhappy.
She went blithely down the stairs, finding that she was not having to act— that she really felt happiness through her whole body since she had come to her decision.
She was reaching for the cream when her mother noticed her bare finger.
"Delsa!" she cried, "your ring! You'll lose it if you keep taking it off and laying it around."
Delsa smiled at her mother.
"Fve taken it off for good. Moth- er," she said quietly. "I am not go- ing to put it on again."
Her mother looked at her with stricken eyes.
"Delsa, you haven't let a passing fancy—"
Delsa felt her father regarding
AND FOR ETERNITY
45
her, and she turned her eyes to him.
"It is not Hke you to jest about such things, Daughter," he said, and a worried question was behind his words.
'I'm not jesting. I've thought it all out. Listen, Mother, Dad. When Hugh wrote to me last, he asked me to release him from his promise. He wants to marry an Australian girl he's met and fallen in love with. I thought at first I couldn't—"
Her mother rose quickly and came around the table to her.
''Darling!" she said. ''I felt some- thing was wrong. Why didn't you tell me? Hugh can't be serious! Oh, we'll work this out!"
Delsa smiled reassuringly.
'I've already worked it out. Moth- er," she said. "As I said, at first I thought I couldn't bear to give Hugh up. I was thinking, I know, more of what everyone would say than I was of my own loss. But now I see that Hugh is right to ask for his freedom if he wants it."
"But how can he want it?" her father asked indignantly. "After all these years, after all we've done for him. He must have gone crazy down there!"
"He was lonely, no doubt," Del- sa defended, "and he needed some- one right there, someone real that he could touch and love. But there's more to it than that. Dad. Hugh was just a boy when he went away— I was just a girl. He's grown up since he left, and now that he's a man, he's chosen someone else."
"Delsa, how can you defend him?" her mother asked. "As if you couldn't make a grown man a wife. You've grown up, too. You'd be a suitable mate—"
"Yes," Delsa said thoughtfully,
"I've grown up, too. And that's why I see Hugh's point of view."
CHE paused. It was proving to be difficult, all right, but not in the way she had thought. They just couldn't understand, that was all. And they must understand; they must still love Hugh.
She tried, "You must think of Hugh as a man. Dad— a man far away from Utah and from the things he has always known and the things he has always planned. As an independent adult he has found that the things he wanted as a boy are not the things he wants right now. We must understand that, and grant Hugh the right to do as he sees fit."
"Not when it means throwing you over after he has asked you to marry him!" her father cried indig- nantly. "Not if it means breaking your heart, leaving you to be a spin- ster-"
"My heart is not broken. Father, and if I am a spinster, it will be my fault, not Hugh's."
Her mother shook her head sadly.
"You don't realize what you are saying, what you are doing when you release Hugh, Delsa. Think it over; let's talk it over some more before you do anything. His mother can't know — "
"Not yet. Hugh said for me to break the news any way I wished. I am going to tell Aunt Martha today —and anyone else who cares to know about it, or has a right to know," she added.
They looked at her sadly, at a loss what to do when she seemed so calm, so decisive. To them she was still their little girl, capable of being hurt, and they wanted fiercely to protect her. But they loved Hugh, too, be-
46 RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
yond the ordinary love for a neigh- and said uncomfortably, "Oh, Jeff!
bor's child who has grown up almost If you're being bothered about that
in the family. nonsense you were saying the other
Delsa came around the table, put night— forget it! I knew it didn't
an arm around each of her parents, mean anything— it was the moon-
and bent and kissed them gently. hght and the music and all—"
''It's all right, dears," she whis- Jeff's voice was distant as he said,
pered. "You'll see! I must run now, making no acknowledgment of Del-
or I'll be late for Sunday School." sa's words, "Did you have a nice
As she came to the corner of the ride yesterday?"
street on which the church house For a moment Delsa was stunned
stood she met Jeff Holden, carrying with surprise and shock that Jeff,
Trudy and with Davy running like whom she had considered one of her
a young colt at his side. best friends, paid no attention to
When Davy saw Delsa he let out an announcement fraught with so
a whoop ajid ran toward her, his much importance to her.
chubby arms outstretched. He flung She stammered, "Ride? What
himself against her knees, crying do you mean, Jeff?"
"Delsa! Delsa!" The bitterness in his voice could
Trudy held out her baby arms and not be mistaken. "I saw you and
said, "Delia!" Windsor ride off into the canyon
They all laughed, but Delsa and I surmised you were trying to
noticed at once that Jeff's laugh was help him enjoy his furlough— but I
not as clear and gay as it usually was. didn't think it would lead to the dis-
He's tired, she thought, and re- carding of Hugh's ring and all the
proached herself for not having gone fine loyalty you've made such a
over the day before to help him with show of!"
the children. His meaning struck her like a blow
Delsa took one of Davy's hands • and she was furious. She dropped
and they started down the street to- Davy's hand and walked ahead so
gether. swiftly that the child stumbled after
Suddenly Delsa was aware that her crying, "Delsa, wait for Davy!"
Jeff's eyes were on her hand— the But she didn't stop. Then she heard
hand that held Davy's, and she re- Jeff say sharply, "Come back, David,
membered that Hugh's ring was no Come here!" and she felt tears sting
longer there. She looked straight the edge of her eyelids at the hurt
at Jeff. in his voice.
"Hugh has asked me to release Delsa didn't give herself time to
him from our engagement, Jeff," think. She went straight to her
she said quietly. place with her class and from that
moment on she was busy. But as she
JEFF did not answer at once, and followed the preliminary service, as
^ Delsa saw a shadow cross his clear she went with her class into their
gray eyes. Then he turned his eyes own room and directed the lesson,
away and walked on, in silence. the ghost of a thought was moving
"What's the matter?" Delsa asked, shapeless and inarticulate through
and as Jeff did not answer she flushed her heart.
AND FOR ETERNITY
47
She was eager for the service to be over. She wanted to go home, to get out Blue Star and ride, ride, ride, until she had thought this thing through.
But it wasn't to be that easy. Del- sa slipped out of the church and cut through the lot, planning to get home unseen by any of her friends, for she had no heart now to tell her news to any others. But there, as if he had read her plans. Alec stood leaning against a poplar tree, wait- ing for her. He came forward eagerly.
*1 figured you'd be hurrying home after Sunday School," he grinned, ''and would take this short cut."
■pjELSA smiled in spite of herself. He was so young, so impatient.
"You figured— with Millie's help I'll bet!" she said teasingly.
Alec laughed. "Nope! I figured it all alone. You were helping your ma do the washing, so I thought you'd probably help her get Sunday dinner."
"And you'd probably get invited to help Dad eat it!"
"Sure! Sure!"
He took her arm and they walked along together.
In a way, Delsa thought, it was lucky that Alec was there waiting— that he was going home wdth her. It kept her from thinking of what Jeff had said. If she got time to think of that, she would find out, doubt- less, what the rest of the town would say once they heard. And again her old fear of being pitied, of being looked at with commiseration stirred.
It would be better to marry Alec, right now, and tell them all after- ward. But she was being childish
again— she was going back to the im- mature deceit of the past days— the deceit she had cast off up there on the boulder.
She would take this respite that Alec offered and enjoy it— so she laughed with him and joked with him, and when he caught her paying scant attention and chided her, she laughed lightly and volunteered no excuse.
She saw her mother's worried frown when she brought Alec in to dinner, and went over and put her arms about her.
'I've brought Alec home to din- ner, Mother," she said quietly. "He'll be a good tonic for all of us."
Her father gave her a sharp look as if to say, "You can put off reckon- ing for a time, my dear, but it will come."
The meal, in spite of this, was gay with banter and laughter. Delsa was sure that Alec had noticed that she had not put Hugh's ring on again and that he was taking this as a tacit acknowledgment of his own candi- dacy for the place Hugh had once held. But she wouldn't let that wor- ry her.
After dinner Hugh's mother came in and Delsa was glad that Alec in- sisted that her mother sit with Mrs. Temple while he and Delsa did the dishes. Now Hugh's mother would not notice her ringless finger for awhile. Delsa shrank from telling her what Hugh had done, even though she knew this task must sooner or later be faced.
Now in the kitchen with Alec, she tried to forget all the unpleasant aspects of being jilted, and to con- centrate only on the happier ones. She was free now to look at Alec with affection, even with love, if she
48 RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
chose. She was free to accept his ago/' Delsa said softly, smihng at
kisses, if they were the kisses she the thought of how she had changed
wanted. She was free as she had since that evening. "But I was
never in all her life before been free, afraid, Alec! I was afraid to take it
because always before Hugh had had off! I was afraid of what everyone
first claim on her thoughts and her would say and think. I was afraid
affection. of being left alone."
She was a little giddy with this ''Well, you don't need to be afraid
new freedom and a little frantic with of that any longer!" he cried and had
the worry she wouldn't admit, so her in his arms again,
that she laughed too quickly and too Delsa felt like weeping. She felt
often, and Alec saw that she was not as if she were his mother, and he was
calm and composed. asking her to assure him of her love
He put his arms around her. and she couldn't, and she felt that
'The symbol of the pledge is she was betraying him. She put her
gone, Delsa, darling! darling!" he hands against his shoulders,
whispered. ''What does that mean, "No, Alec, no!" she cried softly,
dearest? What does it mean?" She withdrew from the circle of
She felt his strong, young heart ^^^^ arms and stood leaning against
beating against her cheek. She the table, looking at him with com-
thought, I can let him believe I am passion. He was so young, so alone,
in love with him-maybe I am! I so defenseless agamst his emotions.
can let him think that is why I took Hugh would have been just like this
off Hugh's ring! —even with all the growing up the
cu . 'A ^ui "rM, Ai '4- war would have given him. Thev
She said softly. Oh, Alec, it i i. , tt ^ ^ i i
1^ ,. •'.i- 1. lu 1. were only boys! Her throat ached,
doesn t mean anything except that j i i i ^ t i j m
Hugh has asked me to take it off." f,"^ '^^ *°"f '' \^"' "° o^er than
° Alec, really! It must be that my heart
has grown old suddenly!
A LEG drew back from her. He Alec stood looking at her, leaning
took her shoulders in his hands toward her in that slanting, eager
and turned her towards the light so way of his, his brown eyes troubled
that he could look into her face. at her mood.
"Do you mean you are really free. She stepped forward and put her
Delsa? But how? When?" He was hands on his arm and raised her eyes
happy, incredulous. to his face.
"A long time ago," Delsa said "Don't be troubled, Alec!" she
wearily. "A long time ago." begged. "I don't know which way
"But yesterday you said—" I'm going yet. All I want is happi-
"I said that the ring was the sym- ness for you and for Hugh and for
bol of a pledge. When you sug- all this troubled, crazy, reeling
gested taking it off, throwing it world. But I don't know which way
away, I saw suddenly that that was happiness lies— for anyone— just
all I had to do—" now."
"But why hadn't you done that be- She felt the tears heavy on her
fore, if he asked you so long ago?" lashes, and suddenly she was the lit-
"Oh, it was really only a few days tie one, wanting to lay her head
AND FOR ETERNITY
49
against him and weep as only a child can weep.
Alec put his arms about her and held her gently, tenderly.
"There, little girl!" he whispered against her hair. "Fm clumsy and thoughtless, rushing you like this. Forgive me. I just get panicky when I think how littie time there is. But dry your eyes and forget it! We'll go slow, sweetheart. We'll take it easy. Don't cry, kid!"
She felt a crazy desire to laugh at
that, but she saw that he was in des- perate earnest— he was the strong one, the adult one, the protector— and she shook her head, wondering that he could be so naive.
She turned back to the neglected dishes, and as she dipped her hands into the suds she felt a little chill of fear and shuddered. Maybe my heart is really dead! she thought, and be- gan to wash plates vigorously to hide her fright.
{To be continued)
♦ ■
HILL WOMAN
Maude Blixt Trone
I do not care to talk v^tli men Whose ears have never heard
The misery from little things— The wail of a wounded bird.
I could not love a man whose eyes Are blinded to the sight
Of a moon brittled by the frost And chipping off its light.
I will not marry any man
Until he proves to me That he can plant the smallest seed
As well as fell a tree.
«J$V^
FROM THE FIELD
Margaret C. Pickeiing^ General Secretary-Treasurer
Regulations governing the submittal of material for "Notes from the Field" appear in the Magazine for February 1944, page 104.
MESSAGES FROM THE MISSIONS
New England Mission jyiYRTLE BERNARDS, auxiliary supervisor of the New Eng- land Mission, reports: 'In October of 1944 the Relief Society in the Providence Branch was discontin- ued because of the lack of members. Three families had moved to Salt Lake City and one to Mississippi. Since the first of the year, however, membership in the branch increased by the baptism of converts and oth- er members moving in. The Relief Society was reopened in March with Sister Alice Lyon as president. One of the rooms in the branch chapel wasn't being used so the new Re- lief Society made their first project the redecorating of this room for their own use.
, ''The priesthood members replas- tered the walls and the Relief So- ciety carried on from there. They had the floors covered with a dark green linoleum, painted the walls and woodwork and made curtains and drapes for the windows. The Providence chapel at one time had been used as a theater and the stage curtains had been left. These cur- tains were made up into drapes for all the windows in the chapel. This first project has been completed and the members of the Relief Societv now have a lovely place to meet in Page 50
and carry on their regular outlined work. The priesthood members of the branch have recently completed a baptismal font and are now beau- tifying the grounds. On work nights the Relief Society sisters cook din- ner at the chapel so the brethren may come right from their work, have dinner, and work outside around the chapel while it is still light. The Relief Society of this branch has greatly helped to in- crease activity and unity."
Eastern States Mission A LBERTA O. DOXEY, president of the Eastern States Mission Relief Society, reports:
''I have been able to visit a few of the branches of the mission and on these occasions I have found the sisters laboring under great difficul- ties due to scattered membership and scarcity of gasoline to reach meeting places but carrying on just the same, and their devotion to duty and accomplishments has indeed been inspiring. Many of our mem- bers are actively participating in some war service along with their Relief Society work and we have one member, a widow and officer in the Princeton Branch Relief Society, who has just donated her ninth pint pf blood to the American Red Cross.
BUFFALO BRANCH RELIEF SOCIETY, EASTERN STATES MISSION,
CHRISTMAS TOY DISPLAY Photograph submitted by Alberta O. Doxey, President Eastern States Mission
Relief Society
52 RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
Some notable accomplishments of party on Saturday evening, Decem-
some of our branches follow: ber 23, 1944. (^^^ picture on preced-
"The small branch Relief Society ing page.) at Newburgh, New York, with five ''Another project of interest was
active members, sponsored a bazaar that of the Lancaster Branch Relief
on April 14, 1944, which netted a Society which gathered 106 articles
clear profit of $80.75 through the of clothing and packed them and
sale of refreshments and many beau- sent them to war refugees, tiful articles made by the hands of 'In Syracuse, New York, the Syra-
these few sisters. cuse Branch Relief Society held its
"On August 24, the Altoona annual bazaar on November 14. The
Branch Relief Societ}-, with a total Fulton, New York, Branch Relief
of seven active members, held a rum- Society joined with a booth of
mage sale which made a net profit handiwork, as well as food. Such
of $61.49. All of the goods sold articles as hand-embroidered and
was donated by members and it crocheted linen of various descrip-
was felt that the sale was a success tions were on sale, as well as pies,
in view of the amount made and cakes, cookies, hot dogs, sweet cider,
the fact that only two months prep- and homemade candy. A fish pond
aration was given to it. provided entertainment for adults
'The Buffalo Branch Relief So- and children as well. Though none ciety had a notable project in Sep- of these sisters had ever made or tember. It was decided that be- worked on a quilt before, the beau- cause of the scarcity and poor qual- tifuUy appliqued quilt which they ity of toys that would be available, had ready for the bazaar sold for the branch Relief Society would $26. The total proceeds from the make Christmas toys. As a result bazaar amounted to $63.03. of many hours of work, quite a col- "The Philadelphia Branch Relief lection of adorable stuffed animals, Society, with an active membership some attractive bean bags, rag dolls, of ten, held a bazaar on December and the beginnings of drums, sets of g which was well attended by the blocks, costume jewelr\' for the old- branch membership. The enter- er girls, scrap books, and other such tainment provided by the mission- things were made. Because of the aries laboring in the mission office infantile paralysis epidemic in Buf- was especially enjoyable. A profit falo, the Crippled Children's Guild of $87.12 was realized." Hospital was overcrowded and it
was thought it would be best to re- Northwestein States Mission
member these children with the OHEA STOTT, counselor in the toys. Therefore, 130 separate toys Golden Ridge Branch Relief
and gifts were made and wrapped Society, Great Falls District, reports
and most of them deli\ered to the as follows:
children's ward of the Meyer Me- "The Golden Ridge Relief So-
morial Hospital on December 23. ciety, consisting of fifteen members,
The remainder of the toys were dis- under the able leadership of Sister
tributed to the children of the Buf- Armida Hanberg, president, has
falo Branch at the annual Christmas sponsored two outstanding enter-
NOTES FROM THE FIELD
53
tainments during the 1944-45 sea- son.
''A bazaar was sponsored in No- vember. Articles were donated by members and some non-members. The ReHef Society collected rags and prepared them for rugs at work meetings. Fourteen rugs were wov- en and sold at the bazaar. Mater- ials for a quilt were donated by some of the members. It was quilted at work meetings and also sold at the bazaar. When all expenses were paid a profit of $163 was made.
''On March 17 the organization sponsored the Annual Day enter- tainment. A delicious banquet, furnished by the members, was served on a beautifully decorated table. The table was arranged with candles, place cards, napkins and favors to carry out the Relief So- ciety colors, blue and gold. All mem- bers and partners were in attend- ance. A dance was enjoyed after the banquet."
Australian Mission QERTRUDE SHIRRA, counselor in the Brisbane Branch Relief Society, Queensland, Australia, writes :
'Tar away here in sunny Queens- land we Relief Society sisters wish to express our appreciation to the General Board for the excellent suggestion of a patriotic program honoring our boys in the services, their mothers, wives and children. On Sunday, July 27, 1943, we cele- brated our Society's twelfth anniver- sary by staging this patriotic pro- gram in the evening's meeting.
"The church was suitably deco- rated with American and British flags. The congregation sang, "The Star Spangled Banner," and "Na-
tional Anthem." The foreword and conclusion were given by Sister Irene Boulton in patriotic costume. A talk was given by Sister May Shar- man on 'Our Boys as Missionary Soldiers.' A chorus, Test We For- get,' was rendered by the Singing Mothers and daughters.
"A Salute to the Flag/' by two boy scouts. All servicemen present and wives and mothers of those away were then honored and had patri- otic ribbons pinned on them.
"After a talk by Sister Gertrude Shirra on 'Our Ghurch Stands Ever Ready to Defend the Gause of Free- dom,' the congregation joined in singing 'Victory Hymn.'
"Gommunity hymn singing, which, as a regular feature for the entertainment of our visiting service- men, follows each Sunday night's service, was then enjoyed, as were also refreshments. Lights were turned out and twelve candles were lit on a three-tiered birthday cake made and donated by Sister Ida Parker. Our president. Sister Har- riet Dean, then blew out the can- dles successfully in one breath and our eldest member of the Relief So- ciety, Sister Anna Gilbert, seventy- six, came forward and cut the cake which was passed to all.
"We truly felt our efforts were immeasurably compensated.
"Similarly, we celebrated our 1 3th anniversary and we acclaim both patriotic evenings as memorable oc- casions.
"With Sister Harriet Dean, Sis- ter Ethel Orth, and myself as a pres- idency, we are extremely happy to mention that love and unity and enthusiasm pervade all our meetings and because of this we are truly grateful to our loving Father in
54
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
MEXICAN MISSION RELIEF SOCIETY
President Mary D. Pierce and six Relief Society branch presidents. Left to right: Antonia Cardenas, Ermita Branch, Mexico City; Salome Flores, San Pedro Branch, Federal District; Lucia Morales, Cuautla Branch, State of Morelos; President Mary Done Pierce; Jovita Bravo, Santiago Branch, State of Hidalgo; America Tapia, Toluca Branch, State of Mexico; Clementina Esperon Juarez, Tierra Blanca Branch, State of Veracruz.
Heaven who sheds his spirit upon us so bountifully."
Mexican Mission
nPHE following is a report from the Mexican Mission by Sister Mary D. Pierce, president:
"The regular semi-annual con- ference of the Mexican Mission was held May 18, 19, and 20. This year an exposition was held of work com- pleted by the members of our mis- sion in Relief Societies and in their homes. A medium-sized room of the chapel was filled with the ar- ticles brought in. Several quilts covered one wall, and the other three were covered by a variety of articles. There were lace table-
cloths, embroidery work on towels, pillowcases, luncheon cloths, etc., drawn work, dolls, a child's crocheted dress, and a yellow organdy formal. On a table in the center of the room was a miniature plush living room set, several artificial flowers, a pair of leather gloves and a carved wood- en plaque, tinted, of the Prophet Joseph Smith, made by one of the brethren. There was also a wall plaque of plaster that was very pret-
"Immediately after the second session of the conference, everyone was invited to see the exposition, and a demonstration was given by Sister Pauline Green, under the di- rection of Sister Mary D. Pierce,
NOTES FROM THE FIELD
55
The members were shown how to cover the end of a quilt, so as to be •able to keep it clean longer. Sister Green also told them how to wash a quilt to get the best results. A demonstration was then given on how to paint cloth with crayolas and keep the color in, even after wash- ing. This is very simple and easy to do, and you can make very pretty curtains, bedspreads, etc. with it. Each member was then given print- ed instructions on how to make pot holders, and two types of aprons that are especially useful. They were also shown the finished articles.
"The demonstration ended with Sister Pierce telling the members that the project for the Relief So- ciety this coming year is to have every family in the mission supplied with the number of quilts they need.
"The exposition itself continued until the end of the conference. It was a real success, and if the mem- bers express a desire for it, we plan on having another one next con- ference.''
The mission further reports: "In one of the smaller branches of the Mexican Mission which is located in Atlixco, Puebla, a tiny Indian town about eighty-five miles south- west of Mexico City, a handful of faithful Mexican sisters carry on the regular Relief Society lesson work and activity. A typical example of their work is the special program which was held a short time ago in commemoration of the organization
of the Relief Society, March 17, 1842. Sister Mary D. Pierce reports that on the evening of March 19 a special celebration was held at the home of one of the members to which all of their husbands were also invited.
"A play was presented centered about the lives of the six Relief So- ciety presidents and each Mexican sister taking part gave a short sketch of the life and activities of one of the presidents. Two recitations and a song then were given with a short skit on temperance ending the pro- gram. Ice cream and cookies were served to those present.
"The entire program was very simple and unelaborate, but it dem- onstrates that even among those of humble birth and little or no formal education, the Relief Society can go forward in the true spirit of our Church and carry on activities in which the whole group participates. The sisters of the Atiixco Branch, several of whom do not know how to read nor write, are all very poor and their lives are not much affected by this modem world, but they all joined together in planning and tak- ing part in an evening of enjoyable entertainment in honor of the organ- ization to which they belong. A de- tailed report of this program was sent in to Sister Pierce at the mission home in Mexico City by Sister Con- cepcion de Lara, Relief Society pres- dent in Atlixco."
LESSON
DEPARTMENT
cJheoiogy
Church History
Lesson 15— The United Order Begun and Its Establishment in the Settlements
Dr. H. Wayne Diiggs
For Tuesday, April 2, 1946
Objective: To show how the Lord strives always to have his children seek the more per- fect social order of living.
npHE gospel of Jesus Christ has been sent to the earth for the salvation of mankind. In many cases the saints, and more especially people of the worid, have felt that this salvation is meant only for hap- piness hereafter. While no one can deny that it is the joy of eternal peace that is the ultimate goal of liv- ing, yet to insure such a hope it is necessary to labor for salvation in this mortal existence.
Such being the case, anything, then, that blights and dwarfs our liv- ing here should be alleviated. Sick men cannot work. Poverty-stricken people have no spirit to do, nor can those who are trapped in the wages of sin find joy in future living. The Lord would stamp out all things that shackle the souls of men. This, of course, can only be done when men co-operate. The Lord can show the way, but if the benefits of his coun-
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sel are to be realized, his children must learn to listen and obey.
One of the first things the Master taught the early members of his Church was the need for working to- gether. They were to share, as a group, the sorrows as well as the joys. There would always be poor among them. Just as sure as the rising sun, disappointments and reverses would always be a part of this life, and suf- fering would come as a result. The widow and the fatherless, the in- valid and the weak, all must be as- sisted. The human heart is tender and the human soul has pride. Both of these must be considered even above the immediate relief of physi- cal want. If they are not, the spirit and will to rise above difficulties breaks, leaving often but the shell of man, the outward form bereft of the divine light of his inner spirit. Few sights are more heart-rending
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57
than those to be viewed upon the park benches of great cities— human driftwood, cut free from the moor- ings of purpose in hfe.
In his wisdom the Lord knows that there can be no true salvation for his people unless the evils of pov- erty and destitution can be con- trolled. This was the reason that, in the very beginning of the estab- lishment of his Church in the latter days, he tried to bring about what is known as the law of the United Order or consecration of properties. To fully understand this law and its far-reaching effects swells the heart with love and kindness, for what greater joy is given man than to know he is of worth to others? You will recall that the Prophet Joseph Smith, before the fatal return to Nauvoo, said: *lf my life is of no value to my friends, it is of none to myself."
While, as a people, the saints of early days were not cpite equal to the responsibility of accepting this higher law of social living, still it has not all been loss to know of their failure. "A man's reach should ex- ceed his grasp, else what's a heaven for," writes the poet, Robert Brown- ing.
The lesson for this month can have but little in the way of history to report, there being but two main periods in the past one hundred years of the Church when the law of the United Order was attempted —the first, in the establishment of Zion in Missouri; the second, with- in a few communities in the far west, such as Orderville in Southern Utah.
... in practice, the brethren in Missouri got away, in their attempts to set up the United Order, from the principles set out
in the revelations. This is also true of the organizations set up here in Utah after the saints came to the valleys. In Missouri, the departure came by way of the nature of the title which was given to the Church and of the title which was reconveyed to the donor — in practice it was a sort of "lend-lease arrangement" as finally devel- oped. The revelations and the instruc- tions of the Prophet called for a fee simple conveyance of real estate by the donor to the bishop and an absolute bill of sale of the personal property of the donor also to the bishop. The bishop then granted back to the donor by the same sort of doc- uments the donor's 'portion,' 'steward- ship,' or 'inheritance.' In the Orderville experiment a regular communal organiza- tion apparently was set up and all property held in common. The Prophet Joseph had time and time again declared that the Church was not a communal organization. On one occasion, while attending a lec- ture on socialism, he declared, "I said I did not believe the doctrine." This was in 1843.
— President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
Today on a Church-v^de scale we may be nearing something of a Unit- ed Order under the present Welfare Plan. Says President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.:
Perhaps . . . when the Welfare Plan gets thoroughly into operation ... we shall not be so very far from carrying out the great fundamentals of the United Order. * * * If the Welfare Plan is fully operative, we shall be able to care for every destitute Lat- ter-day Saint wherever he may be (Con- ference Address, 1942).
The law of consecration or the United Order is not, as some have supposed, a law doing away with private ownership. On the contrary, under this law each family in the Church would legally own enough property to satisfy ''his family, ac- cording to his circumstances and his wants and needs, inasmuch as his wants are just—" (Doc. and Cov.
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82:17; 78:5-8). This would mean that the amount of property owned by the various famihes in the Church would of necessity vary since the needs of families are different. There would be equality, however, in that all families would have their needs. When the Prophet Joseph Smith was asked if the Mormon people be- lieved in having all things in com- mon his answer was ''No." (D.H.C.. Vol. Ill, p. 28)
In order to understand the true spirit of the law of the United Order it must be understood that basically all that we are and have really be- longs to the Lord. He, therefore, can call upon us for bur property as well as our lives since both are his in the first place (Doc. and Gov. 104:
14-17.47-57)-
The amount of a man's property which should be retained by the Church and the amount he should receive back was to be determined as follows, as presented by the Prophet in a letter dated June 25, 1833 and addressed to Edward Partridge:
"I proceed to answer your questions, con- cerning the consecration of property: — First, it is not right to condescend to very great particulars in taking inventories. The fact is this, a man is bound by the law of the Church, to consecrate to the Bishop, before he can be considered a legal heir to the kingdom of Zion; and this, too, without constraint; and unless he does this, he cannot be acknowledged before the Lord on the Church books: therefore, to condescend to particulars, I will tell you that every man must be his own judge how much he should receive and how much he should suffer to remain in the hands of the Bishop. I speak of those who consecrate more than they need for the support of themselves and their families.
"The matter of consecration must be done by the mutual consent of both par- ties; for to give the Bishop power to say how much every man shall have, and he be obliged to comply with the Bishop's judgment, is giving to the Bishop more
power than a king has; and upon the other hand, to let every man say how much he needs, and the Bishop be obliged to com- ply with his judgment, is to throw Zion into confusion, and make a slave of the Bishop. The fact is, there must be a bal- ance or equilibrium of power between the Bishop and the people, and thus harmony and goodwill may be preserved among you.
"Therefore, those persons consecrating property to the Bishop in Zion, and then receiving an inheritance back, must rea- sonably show to the Bishop that they need as much as they claim. But in case the two parties cannot come to a mutual agreement, the Bishop is to have nothing to do about receiving such consecrations; and the case must be laid before a council of twelve High Priests, the Bishop not be- ing one of the council, but he is to lay the case before them." (Doc. Hist. 364- 65) — President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
When the parties reached an agreement, then the bishop would deed in fee simple the property agreed upon to the Church member. This the member would own out- right as private property. The part of the member's property which was not turned back to him after these transactions had been made then be- came the common property of the Church to be used for the support of the poor in the Church.
If a whole community of saints would thus comply with the law of the United Order there would be a feeling of equality among them, for all having been fair at first declaring their earthly possessions, they might by the same token feel free to call upon the bishop's store in time of need. The bishop, in turn, would be in the best position to administer such a "residue" of property (Doc. and Cov. 42:34-36), since he and his community would know that all had complied legally with the law of the Lord. Thus each saint would
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59
have his 'portion" or ''stewardship" or ''inheritance" from tlie common pool of properties or land first deed- ed to the Church.
It was within the very first years of the Church that the Lord com- manded his saints to obey the law of the United Order. By February of 1831, a number of the new con- verts had assembled in and about Kirtland, Ohio. It was the will of the Lord to have the members of the Church in New York assemble in Ohio. There would of necessity need to be preparations made for these people. Accordingly, Bishop Partridge was instructed to assign them lands after their arrival. At this time, the law of consecration was set into effect. The head of each family after having turned in his property was, in turn, issued a cer- tificate for his portion and inheri- tance in the Church.
Trouble came soon after this law went into effect since not all in the group played fair.
The members of the Church from Coles- ville, New York, on their arrival in Ohio, were located at a place called Thompson, about sixteen miles northwest of Kirt- land. Here, as we have learned, they were directed to live according to the Lord's law, that is, the order of stewardship and consecration of properties. Among these people there resided a man named Leman Copley, who was a member of the 'Shak- ing Quakers' before he joined the Church. He owned a large tract of land which he agreed to turn over to the Colesville branch to occupy in this manner of stewardship, agreeable with the revelation they had re- ceived. It appears that Copley had not been fully converted to the Gospel and he, with some others, later rebelled and broke the covenant of consecration. This caused confusion among the Colesville saints and placed them at the mercy of their enemies, as well as in jeopardy before the Lord. In their distress they sent Newel
Knight, who was in charge of the branch at Thompson, to the Prophet to learn what they should do. The Lord spoke unto them saying that their covenant had been braken and therefore was of no ef- fect, and it would have been better for the one who was responsible for the offense, 'had he been drowned in the depth of the sea.' The members of the branch were now commanded to journey to Missouri, 'urito the borders of the Lamanites,' and there they were to seek 'a living like unto men,' until the Lord might prepare a place for them {Essentids in Church History, page 127).
The stories of other attempts to live the law of United Order are not unlike this one as to the outcome. To some degree the saints at times succeeded, but as a group they seemed not ready to comply with the will of the Lord in these matters.
Today, with so many schemes abroad as to the best solution for a perfect social order, we as members of the Church might well look into the Lord's words and learn his will as did the people of Enoch.
Suggestions ior Active Reading and Discussion
With the help of the suggestive readings given below have the class carry on the discussion as follows: first, answer the question; second, read the assigned part of the text to discover wherein we must "give heed unto his word."
1 . "And all things shall be done by com- mon consent in the Church . . ." (Doc. and Cov. 26:2). What does this mean? Note pages 178-179 following Sec. 26 in the Commentary.
2. Is a person disloyal to the government who acknowledges God as the supreme ruler? (Read Doc. and Cov. 58:21-22)
For further class discussion or home study on the United Order read, "Private Ownership Under the United Order" by President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Conference Address, October 1942; see also Improve- ment Era, November 1942.
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Additional References on the "United Order" "The United Order and Law of Con- secration as Set Out in the Revelations of the Lord," J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Deseret News Church Section, 4 issues, August 25,
September 1, September 8, September 15, 1945. A pamphlet containing these articles may be obtained from the Deseret News, 16 Richards Street, Salt Lake City 1, Utah, by sending a stamped, self-addressed enve- lope larger than 6"xg", with your request.
l/iSiting cJeachers' f/Lessages
Sources of Strength— Charity
Lesson 7— Charity Hopeth All Things, Charity
Endureth All Things
Dr. Lowell L. Bennion For Tuesday, April 2, 1946
Objective: To show that charity meets offense with patience, understanding, and hope.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, ... do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven (Matt. 5:43-45).
n^HIS is strong doctrine. Man seems to be more inclined by nature to give blow for blow than love for hate or good for evil. Critics and skeptics call this Christian ideal good for the kingdom of heaven, but not for this worid. Still, we may ask, what does experience teach us?
Not infrequently when a person is dealt with unfairly his first im- pulse is to fight for his rights, to ral- ly the support of his friends, or even to return evil for evil in order to teach the offender the error of his ways. Experience reveals the folly of such a course of action, for argu- ment only stirs more argument as the wind stirs the open fire; and evil not only increases evil, but justifies it in the mind of the first offender.
A person of charity knows a bet- ter way to deal with an offense against him. Since ''charity seeketh not her own," his first reaction to in- jury or criticism is not to engage in self-defense, but to look within him- self to find the cause for the real or imagined offense. If, after mak- ing careful study and receiving wise counsel, he finds no cause within himself for the offense, then he is happy that the accusation against him is not justified. And since "char- ity rejoiceth in the truth" he is will- ing to wait, to hope, and even to en- dure until truth can be his vindicator which it can be and will be far more effectively than he himself could ev- er be.
Hardship and suffering make up a normal part of a person's life. The
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rains descend, the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon every hfe (See Matt. 7:24-27). Some- times these things come upon us as natural consequences of our own ignorance and sins; often they arq the result of the ignorance and sins of others or of the natural conditions of earth-life. Whatever their cause, they do not leave us untouched. One who comes face-to-face with real struggle and suflfering will never be the same person again. Either he will increase in cynicism, bitterness, melancholy or self-pity, or he will grow in humility, compassion, un- derstanding, and love. It isn't what happens to us, and more especially
what is said about us, that matters, but our attitude towards these things and toward those who offend us.
Charity is an unfailing source of strength which enables us to meet life with courage and faith, with pa- tience, understanding, and love. It relieves its possessor of the burden of a wounded self and of the need to waste energy in self-excuse and self-defense, in blame, or retaliation. It frees the mind and heart for their larger task of knowing the truth and loving the right. Charity does not mean submission to wrong and to error; it means more strength for the right and for the truth.
JLiterature
The Bible in Our Literature
Lesson 7— Bible Influence as Revealed in Sermons, Essays, and Orations
Di. Howard R. Diiggs For Tuesday, April 16, 1946
ADDED to the treasured songs, stories, and plays that have been created for our recreation, we have a wealth of choice sermons, essays, and orations. As distinguished from the lyric, epic, and dramatic types of literature, already presented in these lessons, the sermon, essay, and oration are in a general sense more didactic in purpose and spirit. They teach or portray facts and truths of life with more directness.
At times, this didactic type of lit- erature rises to classic heights. All
down the stream of time men have voiced their thoughts and feelings- have tried to do what they felt was right. Often what was said rang with such force that it echoed and re-echoed through the years. For il- lustration :
We hold these truths to be self-evident — that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. — ^Declaration oi Independence, Thomas Jefferson.
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It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of free- dom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
— Gettysburg Speech, Abraham Lincoln
Only great occasions bring forth such soul-stirring expressions. When a nation is at a crisis, some leader usually rises to voice the heart of the people. When truth is soundly, aptly spoken, the words are caught up and passed on as maxims for guidance, as clarion calls to duty. Usually such expressions, as the ones above, are simple, direct, rhythmic, easy to remember. In v^ord or spir- it, they reveal Bible inspiration.
In "times that try men's souls," those who bear the responsibility of leadership, almost unfailingly turn to Holy Writ for light and strength.
During Britain's darkest days of World War II, when Winston Churchill could promise his people only "blood, sweat, toil and tears," he constantly held faith and courage before them in words such as these:
The task which has been set us is not beyond our strength; its pangs and toils are not beyond our endurance. As long as we have faith in our cause, and uncon- querable will power, salvation will not be denied us. In the words of the Psalmist: "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord."
Later, when the clouds had lifted, he could look back through the dark days and say:
All the world, even our best friends, thought that our end had come .... We
were united in that solemn, majestic hour .... We faced our duty, and by the mercy of God we were preserved.
Such bracing of men and women for their duties is by no means lim- ited to times of deepest distress. In less degree it comes with everyday needs. All of us, great or small, are constantly saying things to try to help the world along.
One thing that marks our daily talk is folk sayings that have come down as a homely heritage of wis- dom. Everyone will recall some of these old, time-tested bits of advice that fell from the lips of grandmoth- er, grandfather or parents, or some helpful-spirited neighbor. Here are just a few samples:
Don't let the grass grow under your feet. Remember, a stitch in time saves nine. Honesty is the best policy. Handsome is as handsome does.
Frequently a bit of wisdom came in verse, as:
The Devil was sick — the Devil a monk
would be; The Devil was well — the Devil a monk
was he.
— Rabelais
A goodly part of our didactic lit- erature, indeed, is cast into verse form— this to make it easier to learn by heart. Songs sung in religious services are in large measure m.ore didactic than lyric. A central pur- pose in their creation is to impress a gospel lesson. For illustration, take these typical lines:
Count your many blessings Name them one by one; And it will surprise you What the Lord hath done.
Let us oft speak kind words to each other. At home or where'er we may be.
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63
Poets, dramatists, novelists, fre- quently let life lessons flower forth in their creations. Oliver Wendell Holmes, for example, after ponder- ing over a broken shell of a cham- bered nautilus, created a beautiful lyric on its life and growth, and closed with a message for himself and for all of us.
Build thee more stately mansions, O my
soul, As the swift seasons roll! Leave thy low-vaulted past! Let each new temple, nobler than the
last, Shut thee from heaven with a dome
more vast, Till thou at length art free, Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's
unresting seal
Bryant's "To a Waterfowl," in which the poet pictures a bird wing- ing its solitary way through the sky into the night, closes with these im- pressive lines:
He who, from zone to zone,
Guides through the boundless sky thy
certain flight, In the long way that I must tread alone, Will lead my steps aright.
Life lessons such as these, which blossom naturally out of songs, stor- ies or plays, are diamond truths in their settings. Our literature is sprinkled with like gems of thought —made the more impressive because they are artistically presented. In harmony with all true teaching, they lead, guide, persuade, but do not ''force the human mind."
Preachers will do well to keep this basic principle, so marvelously ex- emplified in the life of the Master Teacher, constantly in mind. Our most effective ones do. Indirectly, rather than directly, they present
their lessons of life. As vdth the Savior, they often make the truth walk and talk through a well-told story. Occasionally when condi- tions demand, they speak with plain- ness, as did Jesus when he drove the money changers out of the temple, and when he rebuked the scribes and Pharisees. Generally, however, the approach to the hearts and minds is such that folk are stirred with the im- pulse not merely to be good but to do good.
A few illustrations of what may be called persuasive preaching or teaching are the following:
I sometimes think that we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity for the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays — let them overtake me unexpectedly — waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: "Why, this is Christmas Day." — The Friendly Road, David Grayson
It is hard for me to see how a great man can be an atheist. Without the sustaining influence of faith in a divine power we could have little faith in ourselves. We need to feel that behind us is intelHgence and love.
Doubters do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create.
Faith is the great motive power; and no man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternal- ly important and that his work, well done, is a part of an unending plan.
— Fundamentals oi a Successful Life, Calvin Coolidge.
There is no real wealth in gold. People talk about being wealthy — about being rich; but place the richest banking com- pany in the world upon a barren rock, with their gold piled around them, with no pos- sible chance of exchanging it, and desti- tute of the creature comforts, and they would be poor indeed. . . .
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Men and women who are trying to make themselves happy in the possession of wealth or power will miss it, for nothing short of the Gospel of the Son of God can make the inhabitants of the earth happy, and prepare them to enjoy heaven here and hereafter.
Discourses oi Biigham Young, pages 473-4, 483.
Our national welfare should always be a theme deeply rooted in our minds and exemplified in our individual lives, and the desire for our nation's good should be stronger than political party adherence. The nation's welfare means the welfare of every one of its citizens. To be a worthy and a prosperous nation, it must possess those qualities which belong to individual vir- tues. The attitude of our country toward other nations should always be honest and above suspicion, and every good citizen should be jealous of our nation's reputa- tion both at home and abroad. National patriotism is, therefore, something more than mere expression of willingness to fight, if need be. Gospel Doctrine, Joseph F. Smith, page
517-
Latter-day Saints, of all people, should show excellence in didactic literature. Opportunity for such expression is abundantly afforded them. And they will grow in grace and power if they study and practice expressing uplifting thoughts that come to them— not in just common- place style— but with sincerity, and simple artistry. As a practical sug- gestion: Appreciate the ideas God gives you by writing them in your own best language; also keep inspira- tional thoughts others express— a few strikingly effective ones that have impressed you. With such practice and appreciation, skill to write and to speak will grow in you.
Thousands upon thousands of choice sermons, essays, orations have been created and will continue to be created down the years. Again,
if time is not to be wasted on the mediocre, we must cultivate a sense of selection. No two of us will choose the same; our backgrounds for appreciation differ; even our moods change. Yet, if there is to be an upbuilding of our lives, only that which promotes a love for the good, the beautiful, and the true will claim our time and attention. This does not mean that we shall choose only those selections which plainly are linked with the Bible in word or spirit. Much of our didactic lit- erature, particularly of the essay type, is created largely to inform or enter- tain. Observe, for example, the fol- lowing paragraph from one of John Burrough's nature sketches, The Ap- ple:
How they resist the cold! holding out almost as long as the red cheeks of the boys do. A frost that destroys the po- tatoes and other roots only makes the ap- ple more crisp and \dgorous; they peep out from the chance November snows un- scathed. When I see the fruit vendor on the street comer stamping his feet and beating his hands to keep them warm, and his naked apples lying exposed to the blasts, I wonder if they do not ache to clap their hands and enliven their circula- tion. But they can stand it nearly as long as the vendor can.
No mention of the Bible in this apple sketch, yet it brings enjoyment and stirs good memories, as do all well-written and wholesome essays on nature. Literature that takes us out-of-doors, that opens our eyes to the wonder world around us, that lets us travel far and wide, even though we do not leave our firesides to do it— is always helpful, if it is clean and pure. We may get not only information, but interpretation of human folk and also some good fun from such reading.
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65
A classic book of travel that spreads a feast of geography, history, descriptions of nature and human nature for us, with bits of humor thrown in to spice the trip, is Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad. Most folk think of this great writer as merely a humorist. He is all that and more. Observe, for example, these soul-lifting lines from the book just named:
Night is the time to see Galilee. ... Its history and its associations are its chiefest charm, in any eyes, and the spells they weave are feeble in the searching light of the sun. Then we scarcely feel the fet- ters. Our thoughts wander constantly to the practical things of life. . . . But when day is done, even the most unimpression- able must yield to the dreamy influences of this tranquil starlight. ... In the lapping of the waves upon the beach, he hears the dip of ghostly oars; in the secret noises of the night he hears spirit voices; in the soft sweep of the breeze, the rush of invisible wings. Phantom ships are on the sea, the dead of twenty centuries come forth from the tombs, and in the dirges of the night wind the songs of forgotten ages find ut- terance again.
In the starlight, Galilee has no bound- aries but the broad compass of the heav- ens, and is a theater meet for great events; meet for the birth of a religion able to save the world; and meet for the stately Figure appointed to stand upon its stage and pro- claim its high decrees. . . . One can com- prehend it only when night has hidden all incongruities and created a theater proper for so grand a drama.
With his vivid word pictures, his humorous touches, his sharp shafts at the sham and show and mockeries that bring unholiness to sacred plac- es, the author takes us round the land of Palestine, and leaves us, as he does in the above paragraphs, with deeper appreciation of the inner meaning and significance of storied places
round which we linger with him in that Holy Land.
Another selection which brings us closer to the spirit of religion and to the heart of a great American, comes from a treasured book, presented to the writer by President Grant, Abra- ham Lincoln— Man oi God, by John Wesley Hill. In this volume, rich with incidents of Lincoln, is a story told by one of his boyhood friends.
This friend, on invitation, had ac- companied Lincoln to the home of a woman who had but a few hours to live. She had requested that her will be made before she passed away. When this was done, she said to Lincoln, "Now I have my affairs in this world arranged satisfactorily. I have also made preparation for the life to come. I do not fear death. I am glad that I am soon to meet those who have gone before."
'Tour faith in God is wise and strong," said Lincoln. "Your hope of a future life is blessed."
She then asked him if he would not read a few verses from the Bible. They offered him the Book; he did not take it but began reciting from memory the Twenty- third Psalm. Then he quoted the first part of the fourteenth chapter of John, 'In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you." After he had given these and other quotations from the scriptures, he recited several hymns, closing with "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me."
"A little while after the woman passed to her reward," said the friend. "As we rode home in the bug- gy, I expressed surprise that he should have acted as pastor as well as attorney so perfectly, and Lincoln replied, 'God and eternity were very near me today.' "
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Discussion and Activities
1. What are the four basic types of ht- erature thus far presented in these studies on "Bible Influence in Our Literature?" Name an example of each type.
2. Why may essays, sermons, orations be classed under the general classification of didactic literature? Name an essay, a sermon, an oration that you treasure.
3. (a) Be ready to quote a memory gem of a line or two which impresses a worth- while lesson, (b) Be ready also to give some quotation from a leader in the pres- ent world conflict which has brought in- spiration and courage to folk fighting to preserve our freedom.
4. What book of a religious type, out- side the standard works of the Church, has been of constant help and inspiration to you?
5. What folk saying has been handed down as a helpful maxim in your family?
6. What address given during the pres- ent world conflict have you saved for your scrapbook of choice literature? Why?
7. (a) What book of essays, dealing
with nature, travel, or other subjects, has been a source of information and enjoy- ment for you? (b) What are you doing to keep some of the choicest essays you find in current literature?
8. (a) What are you doing to cultivate in yourself skill to express your own thoughts? (b) What are you doing to keep the most helpful thoughts of others active in your heart and mind?
Special References
For helpful essays: Adventures in Friend- ship, by David Grayson; A Watcher in the Woods, by Dallas Lore Sharp; Emerson's Essays, or any other collection of good es- says. Excellent ones may also be found in good school readers.
For uplifting sermons: Discourses oi Biigham Young; The Gospel Kingdom, by John Taylor; Gospel Doctrine, by Joseph F. Smith; Gospel Standards, by Heber J. Grant, and other like books by our leaders.
Orations and addresses — many of these may be found in school readers by Ameri- cans and others.
Social Science
Modern Applications of Moral Principles
Lesson 13— Some Broader Applications of Social Ethics
Dr. Harold T. Chiistensen
For Tuesday, April 23, 1946
Lesson link: Moral aspects of courtship, marriage, widowhood, and other phases of fam- ily life were analyzed last time. It was shown that family stability is necessary to the building and maintaining of morals, and that morality in turn is fundamental to family stability. Selfishness was regarded as the major reason for family breakdown, the primary source of immorality in marriage; and, in contrast, love, co-operation, and helpfulness were named as the essence of family ethics.
Lesson aim: To examine some of the inequalities and inhumanities existent in the world today, and to show that justice, when not violated, leads to both peace and happiness.
¥ OOKING back over previous les- can see that morality is offended
sons, and remembering partic- whenever justice is violated. Ad-
ularly the brotherhood principle, we vancements and satisfactions based
LESSON DEPARTMENT 67
upon self-interest alone are not which permits all of this suffering, is
enough when it comes to ethics; to be explained on the basis of pow-
self-righteousness is no righteousness er and privilege more than ability
at all. Real morality is based upon and effort. It is true, of course, that
love, equality, fraternity, and justice, individuals differ in capacities and
We have already observed how abilities as well as in application and man is sometimes intolerant and effort, so that it is utterly impossible small in his dealings with others; to maintain any dead-level economic and we have illustrated with preju- equality over a long time; wealth will dice, religious persecution, and the quite naturally gravitate to those with like. In this lesson our concern will ability and industry, and to some ex- be with justice as applied broadly to tent it should. Even so, any real some other of the major fields of justice tempered with Christian life: the economic, the legal, the po- mercy would require that no one be litical, and the international. permitted to go without the necessi- ties of life; the ''haves" should feel a Need and Greed responsibility for the ''have nots."
In 1933, the middle of the great But more serious even than the wide- depression, America had between spread tendency on the part of the ^ / twelve and seventeen million work- fortunate to refuse charities and ig- ers unemployed. Several million are nore the handicapped, is the fact unemployed regularly, even in nor- that economic fortune is so often re- mal years. Furthermore, income lated to luck, privilege, and a willing- varies greatly among those who are ness to cheat. While we cannot ex- able to find work, as shown by the pect equality so far as ability and in- fact that in the 1935-36 period near- dustry are concerned, we do not even ly half of America's families received have an equality of opportunity, yearly incomes of less than $1,000 Wealth depends too much upon each and the 195,000 highest income special advantage and deceit, not families received as much as the enough upon effort and honesty. 1 3,000,000 families with lowest in- The profit motive in business, in- come. It was President Franklin D. dustry, labor groups, and some pro- Roosevelt who said that at least one- fessions is apparently amoral in its third of our families are "ill-housed, nature, for it takes little heed of ill-clothed, ill-fed.'' During depres- ethics or public welfare; expediency sion years the percentage of poverty is the thing; profit is placed above goes even lower than that. In Ameri- principle. Advertising all too fre- ca, "the land of opportunity," the quently overplays the qualities of the land favored with an abundance of product in order to sell for profit, natural resources as in no other spot Merchandising has likewise in too on the earth, poverty and pauperism many instances become a game of exist side by side with surplus and deceiving and tricking the public: waste, people starve in the midst of note the technique of high-pressure plenty. salesmanship, for example; and the
Greed is the explanation for much practice of marking goods up in or-
of the need in the world today. Our der to mark them down again for a
great maldistribution of wealth, "sale"; and the tendency to reduce
68 * RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
the quality of goods, jump price ceil- avoids pauperization. By insisting ings, and in other ways profiteer in upon moral responsibility toward wartime. .Many big-time industrial- both self and neighbors it builds ists are s^ ready and willing to ex- character. Fundamentally it is a ploit the laborer and cheat the con- program of security through industry sumer in order to build up power and mutual aid in the spirit of and accumulate huge profits. And Christ, organized labor, on the other hand, has frequently resorted to work slow- Raclceteering downs, wage holdups, and other Defined broadly, racketeering questionable devices; in its legiti- simply means to obtain money by mate struggle for equality, labor has fraud, swindle, or other immoral pro- frequently gone rabid and extreme; cedures. Sometimes it is outside its cry for justice has too often be-^ the law, but often, too, it is tech- come a demand for power and spe- nically within the law though be- cial privilege. Professional ethics is yond all bounds of ethics. The es- probably more highly developed sential idea in racketeering is the than business, industrial, or labor circumvention of law for the sake of ethics; but even here is the frequent big money; it is the idea of extortion, spirit of money madness. Unless the or taking money with trickery or profit motive can somehow or other force without earning it. The law is be tempered or oriented in the direc- evaded sometimes by direct defiance, tion of social welfare in all fields of as in the case of the so-called crimi- economic activity, justice will never nal; sometimes by hiring clever law- be reached and morality will remain yers to find legal loopholes and tech- a thing talked about but seldom nical escape valves; and sometimes practiced. by bribing public officials for the Latter-day Saints should be ap- sake of protection. But always in preciative of the Church Welfare racketeering there is the spirit of get- Program, for its aim is that of secur- ting something for nothing; the idea
ity through both self-effort and that ''only the fooJisli,work/l___
brotherly love. Emphasis is upon Following are some of the leading helping people to help themselves types of rackets : ( i ) Organized rob- rather than encouraging them to ac- bery, burglary, and larceny. This is cept something for nothing. This usually carried on by criminal gangs is a high moral principle. Personal and is, of course, in defiance of the effort and individual responsibility law. (2) Dishonest business deal- are of primary concern, as they must ings such as misappropriating funds, always be in any true moral system, "watering" stock, profiteering on But also in the plan is the idea that war contracts, promoting fake enter- mercy must go beyond mere justice, prises, managing banks, stock ex- greed give way to brotherhood, and changes, or corporations fraudulent- the actual needs of people met— first ly, and other varieties of misrepre- by the individual himself if he is sentations and swindles. Sometimes able to work, next by his family, and this is spoken of as 'white-collar finally by the Church. By stressing crime"; and, actually, although this the dignity of labor this program kind of criminal more often escapes
LESSON DEPARTMENT 69
the hand of the law, white-collar establishment usually comes crime cheats the public out of far through. This is one of the most more money each year than do the vicious types of racketeering. (7) Be- more obvious types of stealing. ( 3 ) trayal of public office. Where public Kidnapping. This extremely de- officials accept bribes, let contracts praved form of racket flourished at inflated figures with the under- here some ten or fifteen years ago standing that they will get a ''cut" but the Lindbergh law, which pre- from the contractor, sell their own scribes the death penalty for kidnap- goods to the government at padded pers, and the activities of the Fed- values, or in any other way use their eral Bureau of Investigation have office dishonestly for personal profit, practically put an end to it. (4) they are betraying the public and de- Bootlegging and the black market, serting all claim to morality. During the prohibition era bootleg- ging became so prevalent as to con- Political Corruption stitute a national scandal, and dur- But this is exactly what is happeiv;^ ing World War II the black market ing in so many cases.' Organized has expanded to similar proportions, crime and racketeering, discussed In both cases millions of people have alsB^©-, would have a difficult time shown themselves willing to take ad- surviving if it were not for the ''big vantage of an artificial legal scarcity fix" where unscrupulous politicians and to run against the law for the agree to protect criminals, of both ^-' sake of personal profit. (5) Profes- the overall and white-collar varieties, ^^ * sional gambling. By playing upon in return for votes and money, people's wfllingness to take a chance Political machines are closely or- in order to "get rich quick," and re- ganized party organizations that are sorting to underhanded tricker}^, pro- primarily interested in votes and fessional gamblers are able to take power regardless of how these are millions of dollars away from the obtained. Party "bosses" with nu- American public each year. In some merous henchmen under them ad- areas this is legal, but in most places minister their machines in an arbi- j : . where gambling establishments op- trary, dictatorial manner. Votes are erate they do so outside the law. (6) bought with money and personal Tribute for "protection." Organized favors; public jobs are handed out to gangs, in the larger cities particularly supporters of the machine regard- where they often have an "under- less of qualifications, and sometimes standing" with the political machine even jobs, which carry large compen- . ^ in power, sometimes extort large sations but little or no work, are ^^i/* sums of money from the various created on the books for "faithful" business establishments on the farce party members; occasionally there is of "protection." Unless each estab- illegal control at the polls and a mis- lishment hands over to these gang- counting of votes. Machine politics \ sters the requested sum, it will find is corrupt at its very core for it caters its buildings wrecked with a bomb, to vested interests, to pressure its goods destroyed with acid, or groups, and not to the will of the some other mysterious disaster hap- people, pening to it— and knowing this, the Corrupt politics is not confined to
70
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— JANUARY 1946
any one political party. Blind bigot- ed party loyalty, with little concern for the issues or the personalities in- volved, is as un-democratic as it is un-American; and yet we have and have had much of it. Narrow ex- pediency in party politics, at the sacrifice of principle, is as un-Christ- ian as it is immoral; and yet it abounds on every hand. As said in an earlier lesson, what we need is more statesmen and fewer politi- cians—more who are courageous enough to put justice and public wel- fare before private profit, and fewer who are willing to fleece the public for their own good. Since much of the inefficiency and corruption that is permitted to exist in government circles is there because of an unin- formed and indifferent voting pub- lic, it follows that the only solution is an enlightened and aroused citi- zenry.
War and Peace
The periodic continuation of war throughout the ages, and the tend- ency for modern wars to be even more total in their brutality and their destructive tendencies than earlier ones is a pretty sad reflection upon the moral progress of mankind. War is basically immoral for it leads to suffering and sorrow rather than peace and happiness. And yet war persists and grows in intensity.
But though war is an evil of con- siderable magnitude, it is not the greatest evil in the world today. Peace is highly desirable, but peace at any price is indefensible and in- conceivable. The greatest evil of mankind is injustice, anB until this can be eliminated wars wfll be in- evitable and, to some extent, justifi- able. There is no point in appeas-
ing the perpetuators of wrong and oppression; any compromise with er- ror and evil is unthinkable. As wrong as war is, if it is a war for justice, truth, and righteousness it has some justification. (For a justification of killing for righteous purposes see I Nephi, chap. 4.)
Permanent peace, the goal of man- kind and the capstone of moral pro- gress, can hardly be realized without the establishment first of all of equality and justice. Unless de- mocracy and Christianity can be felt internally and lived nationally, there is little hope for any world-wide or universal application of these prin- ciples. Until we are wise enough and big enough to clean up our own house there is little chance that we will ever be able to help much in the building of a better world.
Real happiness, then, can never come without peace, nor peace with- out justice, justice without brother- hood. The key to peace and happi- ness in this life, or the life to come, is and will always be love, equality, and justice.
Pioblems ioi Thought and Action
1. Cite figures to show the great maldis- tribution of wealth in this country. Are all men equal in ability, in industry or effort, in opportunity? Give reasons for your answers. How do inequalities in ability, effort, and opportunity explain the inequalities in wealth? Which of these do you think are justified? Show how the profit motive often operates in defiance of ethics. Give illustrations from the various fields of economic ac- tivity, and discuss each. Why does jus- tice require a more equable distribution of wealth and a further development of social security? Discuss aspects of this. Why does the elimination of need de- pend upon the elimination of greed?
2. Define racketeering. How or why is it
LESSON DEPARTMENT
71
permitted to exist? Discuss each of the seven types of racketeering listed in the lesson, and give original examples for each type.
Why is blind party loyalty un-Ameri- can? Why is expediency in party poli- tics immoral? To what extent is the voting public responsible for corrupt politics? Can the problem be solved? How?
Why is modern war a reflection on moral progress? Show that injustice is an even greater evil than war. Is kill- ing ever justified? Defend your an- swer. Do you think the world will ever have permanent peace? If so, how will it be brought about? Discuss.
Selected References
Standard Works:
Bible: Matt. 5:9; 6:19-21; 25:31-46; Acts 20:35; Ephesians 4:28; I Timothy 6:6-12; James 3:1-18; 5:1-6.
Doc. and Gov. 56:16. Books by L.D.S. Authors:
Talmage, James E., The Vitality of Mormonism (Boston: Gorham Press, 1919). "Worldly Gain — Eternal Loss," pages 352-354.
Bennion, Milton, Mora] Teachings ot the New Testament (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1928), "Property," pages 175-182; "Justice and Civil Govern- ment; "Peace and War," "Conclusion," pages 198-227.
THE MORNING STAR
Comtney E. Cottaui
Black is the night of my despair, Cold, cold before the dawn; Hope's congealed within my heart, My idols are fallen and gone; I am alone.
In the anguish of my grief, One ray of hope shines through, The Morning Star, the Light of Christ, His promise, ever new;
And night is gone.
LETTER
Nan S. Richardson
Dear Emma:
So you think I am feeble— how httle you know About your big sister out here in the snow; I'll tell you about it, I'll be honest as of yore, In a very short time I will be eighty-four.
To begin with, last year, I had passed eighty-three, Just what I could do, Santa Claus told to me. So I made fourteen doilies— some large and some small. Four pillow cases— handmade lace and all.
I crocheted three shopping bags, they are handy and neat To take down to the stores and use on the street. To carry small parcels, Christmas ribbons and tags. To help out the salvage and save paper bags.
Then came two house dresses— all trimmed with stitchin', Five calico aprons to wear in the kitchen. I help make my dresses, I trim hats and mend. One can always find sewing that never does end.
Now I wash and I iron, I sweep with a broom; I mop and I cook and I clean my own room; I write dozens of letters, and this is no joke, If it weren't for me. Uncle Sam would go broke.
To Relief Society sometimes I go To work on the quilts and help others sew; They sent me a bag of soft flannel scraps To make little quilts for sick men's laps.
If my friends take the notion to have a nice lunch And if I'm invited, I go with the bunch; I dance and I sing, I have plenty to say. With the help of a stick I can walk every day.
Old age makes one slow— I've lost all my speed. But you'll have to confess that I've not gone to seed. I get pretty tired, but I'm willing to try; And I'll never give up till the day that I die.
I count all my blessings, dear sister, a score. Then why should I care if I am eighty-four! So I'm hoping these lines will bring consolation. For this is the end of my inspiration.
Page 72
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THE RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE
Monthly publication of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-dav Saints
RELIEF SOCIETY GENERAL BOARD
Belle S. Spafford ---_.. President
Marianne C. Sharp - - . . . First Counselor
Gertrude R. Ga'-ff - . . . . Second Counselor
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Achsa E. Paxman Anna B. Hart Florence J. Madsen Blanche B. Stoddard
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Velma N. Simonsen RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE
Editor ..-_-_.-__ Marianne C. Sharp
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General Manager --------- Belle S. Spafford
Vol. 33 FEBRUARY 1946 No. 2
e
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SPECIAL FEATURES
American Statesmen — Their Attitude Toward God Elder El Ray L. Christiansen 75
Abraham Lincoln Speaks Again Vesta P. Crawford 79
Mormonism in the Eyes of the Press:
The World Receives the News of Joseph Smith's Death Elder James R. Clark 89
What the Children Can Do For 1947 Dr. M. Lynn Bennion 93
Fifty and One Ideas For You and For Your Home Blanche M. Condie 101
FICTION
The Ring of Strength — Second Prize Story Alice Morrey Bailey 82
Ring Out the Old Estelle Webb Thomas 106
And For Eternity— Chapter 9 Olive Woolley Burt 113
GENERAL FEATURES
Sixty Years Ago 97
Woman's Sphere Ramona W. Cannon 98
Editorials: "Study My Word" Marianne C. Sharp 99
Congratulations to Sister Lyman on Her Birthday 100
Notes From the Field: Messages From the Missions (Continued)
General Secretary-Treasurer Margaret C. Pickering 118
Music Notes Dr. Florence J. Madsen 126
LESSON DEPARTMENT
Theology: The Building of Temples Continues Dr. H. Wayne Driggs 128
Visiting Teachers' Messages: Charity Never Faileth Dr. Lowell L. Bennion 132
Literature: Bible Influence as Revealed in Children's Literature Dr. Howard R. Driggs 133
Social Science: Morality and the Church Dr. Harold T. Christensen 139
POETRY
The Dream Is Ours — Frontispiece Christie Lund Coles 73
To Elizabeth Olive M. Nicholes 78
The Storm Evelyn Fjelsted 88
To Marie Adeline J. Haws 92
My Old Green Chest Grace M. Candland 95
Grandma Elsie C. Carroll 96
Twilight -, Ada N. Jones 1 1 1
Crucible Beatrice K. Ekman 112
A Prayer Celia Van Cott 127
Star in Her Window Ruth H. Chadwick 144
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THE RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE
VOL. 33, NO. 2 FEBRUARY 1946
THE DREAM IS OURS
Chiistie Lund Coles
If Washington could come to Valley Forge And stand where gallant men gave precious life, These are, perhaps, the words that he would say, Beholding man's disunity and strife:
'Tou, living, would preserve your heritage Had you but seen the cost of freedom, known the hope That calls to the downtrodden of the world, Sensed its promise and visualized its scope."
If Lincoln could return from out the night. Beyond the misted stars that guard his sleep. He'd stand before us, heavy-laden, sad With eyes too full of weariness to weep.
And he would say, I think, if he could speak: "We fought our battle well. We won the fight. We died for a great cause, that brotherhood Be bom and grow into a living light.
''How can your hearts betray us, we who died, Who cannot rest with war stalking the earth; Who know how many have been crucified To bring this hard-won freedom into birth.
''Now, now before it is forever late.
Search well your souls, let go your greed and lust.
Unite together for the common good,
And make a world to justify our trust."
If Washington and Lincoln could return To stand upon these loved and sacred shores. They'd say: "The duty and the dream were ours ... And now the dutv . . . and the dream ... are vours!"
The Cover: "Bryce Canyon" from a photograph by Dr. Walter P. Cottam
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"THE SHRINE OF DEMOCRACY," MOUNT RUSHMORE MEMORIAL,
SOUTH DAKOTA
American Statesmen — Their Attitude Toward God
Eider El Ray L. Christiansen President Logan Temple
THAT America has a divine des- tiny is shown by the decrees of the Almighty as recorded in the scriptures. In the Book of Mormon the Lord has said:
. . . Behold, this is a choice land, and what- soever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ (Ether 2:12).
This is a wonderful promise, but like other promises of the Lord, its fulfillment is dependent upon ad- herence to the righteous principles upon which the promise is predicat- ed. It makes no difference how mighty and strong a nation is, how rich in resources or how powerful in military might, if it ceases to have faith in God and fails to govern its people according to principles of righteousness, it faces certain down- fall. Nor does our beloved America stand exempt, for the Lord God who brought it into being, and has great- ly favored it, decreed that if the American people should forget the Lord and ''become ripened in in- iquity" they would be swept off. If this should happen, or if subjugation should come to the people of this land, it wall come because we in America have reached a fulness of iniquity.
It seems reasonable to believe that the fate of a republican form of gov-
ernment is determined by the de- gree of its adherence to the prin- ciples of Christianity, and that governments and people who reject these principles will find themselves slaves to their own evil ways or of some arbitrary power. It is impos- sible to govern the world success- fully without God, for, after all, God governs the world.
Justice to man and a settled faith in God should be two of the most outstanding attributes of the states- men of America. The progress and perpetuity of this great government, and for that matter of any democra- cy, depends upon the righteous en- deavor of its statesmen, as well as its citizens, and their adherence to the religion of the Master. ''Righteous- ness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov.
It is encouraging to know that the great majorit}^ of the statesmen of America have, in some degree to say the least, acknowledged a faith in God and in righteous living. We can safely say that those who have achieved lasting greatness in Ameri- ca have been God-fearing men who have felt dependent upon an almighty power and who acknowl- edged that power from time to time.
We believe that the Lord pre- pared for the time when his gospel should be restored in its fulness to
Page 75
76
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE— FEBRUARY 1946
the earth. We consider that the men in the American Revolution were inspired by the Almighty to throw off the shackles of the mother government. For this purpose Ad- ams, Jefferson, Franklin, Washing- ton, and a host of others were in- spired to deeds of resistance and to bringing into existence the Constitu- tion of the United States. To the Latter-day Saints the Constitution is an inspired document, for the Lord has said:
For this purpose have I estabhshed the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood (Doc. and Gov. 101:80).
Statements from these early pa- triots prove that they were humble men who recognized their depend- ence upon the goodness of God. Let me list a few:
Washington openly acknowledged the hand of Providence in shaping the affairs and destiny of America, for he said :
No people can be found to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which con- ducts the affairs of men more than the peo- ple of the United States. Ever}' step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of prov- idential agency.
There were many occasions dur- ing the Revolutionary War when Washington demonstrated his faith in the guidance and protection of the Supreme Being, and often ex- pressed his belief that "God in His great goodness will direct the course of the conflict." In his first Thanks- giving Proclamation as President of the United States of America, Wash- ington declared:
It is the duty of all nations to acknowl- edge the providence of the Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protec- tion and favor.
How could a nation go far astray in its policies with a leader who looked to God for wisdom and im- plored others to do likewise? He felt that the determinations of Provi- dence were always v^se whether they appeared to be in his favor or not. When in command of the Virginia Regiment, he gave orders for the of- ficers and men under his command to assemble each Sunday and have prayers and devotion. He maintained that "True religion and morals af- ford a government its purest sup- port."
Elbert Hubbard said of Washing- ton, "His purity of purpose stands unimpeached; his steadfast earnest- ness and sterling honesty are price- less examples."
/^ENUINE rehgious feeling was deep in the heart of Benjamin Franklin. He prayed that he might be preserved from atheism, irrever- ence, ostentations, and hypocrisy. His great desire was to be loyal to "my Prince," that he might remain humble and submissive to the will of the Lord. It was he who calmly arose in the Constitutional Conven- tion after days of discord and little progress and said:
Mr. President, I perceive that we are not in condition to pursue this business any further. Our blood is too hot . . . We have gone back to the ancient history for models of government and examined the different forms of those republics which, having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist. In this situation of this assembly, groping as it were in the dark, to find po-
AMERICAN STATESMEN— THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD
77
litical truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it hap- pened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of light to illuminate our understanding? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible to danger, we had daily prayer in this room for divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard; and they were graciously answered. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting, in peace, on the means of establishing our future na- tional felicity; and have we now forgot- ten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assist- ance? I have lived. Sir, a long time; and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs the affairs of men.
It is said that after the convention accepted Franklin's suggestion and called upon the Lord for help, dis- tinct progress was made and our mag- nificent Constitution was the result. There is always hope for progress and safe legislation when our states- men realize their own limitations and earnestly seek the Lord's help!
The religion of Abraham Lincoln was based in both doctrine and prac- tice on the Sa\dor's admonition "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and vdth all thy soul, and vdth all thy mind .... and .... Thou shalt love thy neigh- bor as thyself." He joined no par- ticular church but, nevertheless, he stands before us as one humbly seek- ing the inspiration, counsel, and help of the Almighty, praying for guidance from above and giving help and sympathy to all about him. He had an unshaken faith in the ulti- mate success of the right, and in the darkest hours of his days in the White House, he declared that he almost lived on his knees.
In reply to an address from the
Society of Friends, delivered to him at the White House, September 28. 1862, Lincoln said:
I am glad to know I have your sympathy and prayers. In the very responsible posi- tion in which I happen to be placed, being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, as I am and as we all are, to work out His great purposes, I have desired that all my works and acts may be according to His will and that it might be so, I have sought His aid.
In the life of Woodrow Wilson, religion was so ingrained that there was never speculation, let alone doubt, in regard to Deity. He had an absolutely immovable faith in God. He once declared in public,