The spread of the Gospel throughout England is certainly pleasing; the contemplation of which cannot but afford feelings of no ordinary kind in the bosom of those who have borne the heat and burthen of the day; and who were its firm supporters and strenuous advocates in its infancy, while surrounded with circumstances the most unpropitious, and its destruction threatened on all hands; but like the gallant bark that has braved the stormi unhurt, spreads her canvas to the breeze and nobly cuts her way through the yielding wave, more conscious than ever of the strength of her timbers, and the experience and capability of her captain, pilot and crew.

It is likewise very satisfactory to my mind that there has been such a good understanding between you, and that the Saints have so cheerfully hearkened to counsel and vied with each other in this labor of love, and in the promotion of truth and righteousness; this is as it should be in the Church of Jesus Christ; unity is strength. "How pleasing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Let the Saints of the Most High ever cultivate these principles and the most glorious blessings must result, not only to them individually, but to the whole Church-the order of the Kingdom will be maintained, its officers respected, and its requirements readily and cheerfully obeyed. Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human racethis has been your feeling and caused you to forego the pleasures of home, that you might be a blessing to others who are candidates for immortality, but strangers to truth, and for so doing I pray that heaven's choicest blessings may rest upon you.

Beloved brethren, you must be aware, in some measure, of my feelings when I contemplate the great work which is now rolling on and the relationship which I sustain to it, while it is extending to distant lands and islands, and thousands are embracing it—I realize, in some measure, my responsibility and the need I have of support from above and wisdom from on high, that I may be able to teach this people which have now become a great people, the principles of righteousness, and lead them agreeably to the wil of heaven, so that they may be perfected, and prepard to meet the Lord Jesus Christ when He shall appear in great glory. Can I rely on your prayers to our heavenly Father in my behalf, and on the prayers of all my brethren and sisters in England (whom, having not seen, yet I love) that I may be enabled to escape every strategy of Satan, surmount every difficulty, and bring this people to the enjoyment of those blessings which are reserved for the righteous? I ask this at your hands in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertions, and that they are called to be co-workers with us and the Holy Spirit, in accomplishing the great work of the last days, and in consideration of the extent, the blessings and the glories of the same, let every selfish feel

ing be not only buried, but annihilated; and let love to God and man predominate and reign triumphant in every mind, that their hearts may become like unto Enoch's of old, and comprehend all things, present, past and future, and come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The work in which we are unitedly engaged is one of no ordinary kind; the enemies we have to contend against are subtle and well skilled in the manœuvering; it behooves us to be on the alert to concentrate our energies, that the best feelings should exist in our midst, and then by the help of the Almighty we shall go on from victory to victory and from conquest to conquest, our evil passions will be subdued, our prejudices depart, we shall find no room in our bosoms for hatred, vice will hide its deformed head, and we shall stand approved in the sight of heaven and be acknowledged the sons of God. Let us realize that we are not to live to ourselves, but to God; by so doing the greatest blessings will rest upon us, both in time and eternity. JOSEPH SMITH.

So Be It.

O God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, overrule, we pray Thee, every act and movement of the power of the world, to further the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom, and to prepare the way for His triumphant reign upon the earth. Bless every honesthearted ruler in the governments and kingdoms of men, and though they may be ignorant of Thy purposes and designs, yet make them the agents to bring about and accomplish the very intentions formed in Thy bosom and decreed in Thine heart.-Orson Hyde.

An Easy Way to Pay Your Subscription.

A GOOD AND ABSOLUTELY SURE WAY OF ALWAYS BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE JOURNAL. Supply yourself with a little bank, vase or other receptacle, and every once in a while during the year drop therein five cents or a dime, and never touch the deposit until you get notice of your subscription being due. Anybody can afford to save an average of 8 1-3 cents a month, a trifle more than one-fourth of a cent a day, and this little amount is all it would require to have a dollar ready when the time for renewal comes. Where is the person in all the world who could not do this? Try this method, and see how easy it will

be for you to get a Library of Church Literature.

NOTICE. The two or three pages of "Mission Review," giving the important happenings in each conference in the mission, which always appears on the first of the month, has been necessarily crowded out in this issue on account of the recognition we have given the Authorities of the Church and other prominent friends of the JOURNAL, but it will appear two weeks later in the number of the 15th.

Just so sure as we as a people are pure and undefiled before God our Heavenly Father, there is no power that can prevail against us.-Orson Hyde.

The Newest Thing in Motto Cards.

The above is a facsimile of the beautiful Motto Cards now on sale at the Mission. The cards are seven by ten inches, printed on elegantly colored fancy cardboard. They are artistically finished with beautiful borders in different designs of original hand drawing made especially for this purpose. The beauty of the cards consists in the handsome appearance effected by the highest degree of printer's skill in the blending of colors, each card having been run through the press several times. And the sentiments! They are just what ought to be in every meeting house, in every classroom, in every home! Choice expressions from our leading men-God's chosen apostles and prophets unto us His children- How we should value their precious words of revealed truth! One single sentiment may kindle to a flame the smoldering spark of righteous ambition within the breast of some one in your home which will burn forever, an eternal, concentrated blaze of light, focused upon the path to celestial glory, from which his steps will never turn. Keep such thoughts before the eye. They are sure to bear good fruit! Get them attractively arranged; then they are both useful and ornamental. These Motto Cards exactly and completely suit the case. Try a few, and be convinced as well as delightfully pleased.

They are ten cents each; three for twenty-five cents, or ninety cents a dozen, postpaid, in assorted borders, colors of card, and sentiments. THE SOUTHERN STATES MISSION, Box 417, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Address

Report of Mission Conferences for One Week Ending February 8, 1907.

On the death of the dearly beloved and much lamented father in Israel, Joseph Smith, Sr., a Patriarch in the Church of Latter-day Saints, who died at Nauvoo, September 14, 1840.

(Millennial Star, 1841.)

-

Zion's noble sons are weeping; see her daughters bathed in tears,
Where the Patriarch is sleeping, nature's sleep the sleep of years;
Hushed is every note of gladness, every minstrel bows full low,
Ev'ry heart is turned to sadness, ev'ry bosom feels the blow.
Zion's children loved him dearly, Zion was his daily care:
That his loss is felt sincerely, thousand weeping saints declare;

Thousands who have shared his blessing, thousands whom his service blessed,
By his faith and pray'rs suppressing evils which their lives oppressed.

Faith and works, most sweetly blended, proved his steadfast heart sincere;
And the power of God attended his official labors here.

Long he stemmed the powers of darkness, like an anchor in the flood;

Like an oak amid the tempest, solid and fearlessly he stood.

Years have witnessed his devotions, by the love of God inspired,

When his spirit's pure emotions were with holy ardor fired.

Oft he wept for suffering Zion all her sorrows were his own;

When she passed through grievous trials, her oppressions weighed him down.

Now he's gone; we'd not recall him from a paradise of bliss,

Where no evil can befall him, to a changing world like this.

His loved name will never perish, nor his memory crown the dust,

For the Saints of God will cherish the remembrance of the Just.

Faith's sweet voice of consolation soothes our grief; his spirit's flown
Upward, to a holier station, nearer the Celestial throne,

There to plead the cause of Zion in the council of the Just

In the court the Saints rely on, pending causes to adjust.

Though his earthly part is sleeping, lowly, 'neath the prairie sod,

Soon the grave will yield its keeping yield to life the man of God.

When the heavens and earth are shaken when all things shall be restoredWhen the trump of God shall waken those that sleep in Christ the Lord.

Published by the SOUTHERN STATES MISSION, Chattanooga, Tenn.

PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY BY THE

SOUTHERN STATES MISSION

Office, 711 Fairview Avenue, Chattanooga, Tenn.
P. O. Box 417.

A SCRAP BOOK OF MORMON LITERATURE

Entered as second-class mail matter at Post Office, Chattanooga, Tenn.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $1.00 A YEAR.

"Love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world anxious to bless the whole human race."—JOSEPH SMITH, the Prophet.

Vol. IV.

MARCH 15, 1907

No. 12

Joseph the Prophet.

BY ELDER B. H. ROBERTS, IN THE CONTRIBUTOR, 1890.

Among those who may be accounted the benefactors of our race, we claim for the Prophet Joseph Smith, the second place. To Him who died that man might live, upon whom was laid the iniquity of us all; by whose stripes we are healed; who brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel; who by way of pre-eminence is called the Son of God, the only begotten of the Father-to Him must be assigned, forever, the first place among the benefactors of mankind. And next to him is the Prophet, who was chosen to stand at the head of the dispensation of the fullness of times.

Born in obscurity-in the western wilds of the state of New York, and of humble parents, without the advantages of worldly education; with ro knowledge of ancient languages or history to begin with; untutored in the sciences, and unlearned in theology, Joseph Smith has done more for the salvation of the children of men than any reformer, theologian or ecclesiastic that has lived since the days of the earthly ministry of the Son of God. It is to prove his right and title to the high place we have assigned him in the roll of honor-in the list of the benefactors of humanity-that this paper is written, rather than to give a biographical sketch of his well known career.

Notwithstanding the very explicit revelation, which God had given of himself; of His person, His attributes, His powers, through His Son Jesus. Christ; for in Him dwelt all the fullness of the God-head bodily, the world had gone far astray, in its conception and knowledge of God. Men had conjured up to themselves a being without body, without parts and pas