Messages of the First Presidency, vol. 4

Messages of the First Presidency, Volume IV, compiled by Dr. James R. Clark of Brigham Young University, covers the period 1901- 1915 and contains the official statements of the First Presidency, with accompanying explanatory historical notes, for the first fifteen years of the administration of Joseph F. Smith as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By the turn of the century Utah had won the long battle for statehood and had elected an apostle to the United States Senate. The successful struggle to seat Apostle-Senator Reed Smoot is reflected in this volume. On this President Smith wrote words which typify the spirit of many of these Messages.

"I wish . . . that . . . the hearts of the Mormon people . . . were known to the whole nation just as we are, that . . . misunderstanding and . . . misrepresentation of the Church . . . would forever cease; and the Mormon people would then take their proper place in the nation. . . ."

But not all the Messages for the period were concerned with Church and State relations. For instance, the important messages of the honor and dignity of the priesthood, the origin of man, the mission of Jesus Christ, and the initial inauguration of the "Home Evening" program of the Church (in April, 1915) are likewise contained in Volume IV, as are many other valuable and authoritative instructions.

Again, as in the previous volumes of this series, the reader will see the image of a dynamic Church with inspired leadership meeting the challenges of changing conditions and relationships.

Dettagli