Continent after his resurrection, and his teachings are identical with those found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We find that he chose twelve men, ordained them, and sent them out to preach the gospel, giving them power to bestow upon others the gift of the Holy Ghost. We find the church named after Christ, and in possession of the gifts of the gospel, and many miracles being performed by them through the power of the Holy Spirit. As found in the book of the disciple, Nephi, the church suffered persecution as it did on the Eastern Continent, and we could go on and on, noting many instances in which the Book of Mormon resembles the Bible, finding additional evidences that the Lord is no respecter of persons, that what he requires of one people he requires of another, and if all keep his commandments all will receive the same blessings. Truly, as Paul states in Hebrews 13, is "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." BERTHA M. EMSLIE. NORMAL LESSONS ON THE BOOK OF MORMON. Part II.-Five lessons on the Geography of the Book of Mormon. 1. The history of the Book of Mormon was enacted upon the Western Hemisphere. The major portion of both the North and South American Continents was known to the ancient inhabitants. All three colonies were more or less acquainted with North and South America. (Ether 4:4. Omni 1:7. Alma 13:11. Helaman 2: 2, 26, 27. Nephi 3: 1.) 2. The Nephites, during the century prior to the birth of Christ, divided the land into two general divisions: the land of Mulek, and the land of Lehi. That portion of the continent north of the Isthmus of Panama (called by them the narrow neck of land) was called Mulek, because the colony of Mulek first landed here; that portion south of the narrow neck of land, was called Lehi, because the colony of Lehi first landed here. (Helaman 2: 27.) 3. The Nephites also divided the inhabited portion of the land at the narrow neck of land, where it was only a day and a half journey from sea to sea, and called the portion northward the land Desolation, and the portion southward the land Bountiful. (Alma 13: 11.) 4. There were three great centers where a high state of civilization was developed : a. Central America, Mexico, and adjacent territory, was occupied by the Jaredite nations, the central country and capitol was called Moron. (Ether 3:7.) And at a later period by the Nephites. (Alma 13: 11.) b. Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and adjacent territory, was settled by the Nephites and called the land of Nephi. It was subsequently occupied by the Lamanites. (2 Nephi 4:2. Mosiah 61: 2.) c. United States of Colombia, and adjacent territory, was settled by the colony of Mulek, who were afterward joined by the Nephites. The country was called the Land of Zarahemla. (Alma 13: 11.) 5. These regions are subject to earthquakes and volcanic changes, and may have much altered in appearance, especially in the mountain regions and on the seacoast, since they were occupied by the Nephites, the last historians. 6. Both the land northward and the land southward, are surrounded by the waters of the two oceans. These were designated by the Nephites as the sea east and the sea west, respectively, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and other landlocked arms of the ocean. Where a portion of these waters lay north or south of a locality, it was designated as the sea north or the sea south, as the case might be. (Alma 13: 11, 12.) 7. The land southward, called the land of Lehi, is traversed from north to south by parallel ranges of mountains, some of great magnitude; and the land northward, called the land of Mulek, is traversed from northwest to southeast, by several ranges of mountains; these divide both lands into valleys and plateaus and served as boundaries between the smaller political divisions of the land, but are mentioned only in a general way. 8. There were several uninhabitable places or regions, and some undesirable localities which were called wildernesses, which divided the different lands and countries. Of these we notice the narrow strip of wilderness, which was the boundary between Nephi and Zarahemla. Alma 13: 11, 14: 3, 16: 12. The east wilderness, Alma 13: 11; 14: 11. The west wilderness, Alma 1:15; 13:11. The wilderness which was west and north, Alma 1: 15, and the wilderness Akish, Ether 6: 4. Where was the field of the Book of Mormon history? How much of America was known to the ancient inhabitants? Into what two general divisions was the land divided? Why was each division named as it was? What other division of the inhabited lands was made? Where was the dividing line? Where were the centers of civilization? Give the name of each great center and who inhabited it. What is said of the possible changes in the appearance of these countries? What seas are mentioned in the Book of Mormon? What is said of the mountains of the Book of Mormon lands? What wildernesses are mentioned? WALTER W. SMITH. THE NEED OF A WISE CHOICE. What could be called a wise choice of books to fill our libraries? Would it be the selection of books that are printed on good paper, having good, substantial bindings, that would make an attractive appearance on the shelves of our libraries? If that is all that is required, how easily would our task be accomplished and our needs supplied; but is that all? Does the farmer, when his fields are ready to sow, buy seeds that are beautifully labeled, regardless of the quality or purity of the seeds he sows; or does he examine each package to see that the seed is good and free from weed or other seeds that would destroy the value of his crops when grown. If he does not he may find that when the harvest is ripe and the autumn has come, that the long, hard days of toil in the burning sun have benefited him but little, just because he failed to sow good seed on his otherwise productive fields; and his summer's work is a failure. The seed-time has passed, and he must be content with what the autumn brings him. He has found that the gilded labels were not a proof of gilt-edged seeds. So it will be with our beautifully bound volumes, if we look not at the printed pages to see what they contain. When we look over the world and see what a vast amount of literature is being printed every day for the lovers of reading to choose from, we feel that great will be the task of those who must undertake to choose such literature as will educate, elevate, and interest the minds of the readers to that degree that they will turn from reading those books that will interest them for the time, but will not fill their hearts with that love of the truth that leads to a better life; for the habit of reading such literature is hard to overcome. When I look at the reading public and see how quickly they turn from good literature placed before them, and go back to the light, trashy reading they have learned to love, I think how like old Israel they are, who longed for the leeks and onions and flesh-pots of Egypt, and murmured until God only permitted two of them to enter the promised land; and I sometimes wonder if God will not deal thus with this generation, only permitting a few to live to enter that beautiful city of Zion, which he shall permit them to build for those who will put on those beautiful, white garments, which are the righteousness of Saints, and be ready to enter that Beautiful city with streets of gold, Beautiful lives must be possessed By those who would enter this home of the blessed. But if we are so much like Israel of old, whose children only were permitted to enter the land of Canaan, then our hope must lie in the rising generation. Those who have not yet formed those habits that keep them longing to go back to that old life of frivolity, and of pleasures of the world. Then our needs will be a selection of literature that will also suit the little ones, those whose minds are now like pages of pure white paper. We shall need such a selection of literature as will help to fill those spotless pages with truth and knowledge, year after year, as they advance in age, leaving no loophole for evil to creep in and mar their beauty, until their minds may be so fortified by truth against the evils surrounding them that they may shun the pitfalls into which so many of the older ones have fallen. Then look well to your laurels, ye Sunday-school workers and Religians, that defeat be not written upon your banners, for in your care is placed, to a large degree, the training of the minds of those children and youths. And to the parents of those little ones, into whose care God has trusted them, do we realize the great responsibility placed upon us in the training of those tender minds? And if we fail in our duty to them, what will be the consequences of that failure? God gave to ancient Israel this law, and told them that if they failed to teach this law to their children, they must answer for the sins of those children. If God exacted that of ancient Israel, a nation of slaves who had been in Egyptian bondage under a nation of idolaters for more than two hundred years, will he require less of us who live in this enlightened age of the world? If not, then the need of the day is that we, as parents, officers, and teachers, teach both by precept and example with untiring energy the truths contained in the gospel of Christ; and also by the wise selection of good books that will help to advance the spirituality of our minds, as well as to be a benefit to all who may read them. Then the need of the day for all of us shall be that we falter not until the fight is ended, the victory won, and God has said it is enough. MRS. MAUD M. SCOFIELD. NEWS FROM THE SOCIETIES. Sharon, Pennsylvania.—We are glad to report that the Religio work in Sharon is on the forward movement. While our class is not very large, the interest in the lessons is very good. Since commencing the study of the new Quarterly renewed vigor is manifest in the class. Much good will yet be done through the Religio in this place. Box 274. MARTIN AHLSTROM. St. Louis, Missouri.-We have been having excellent programs the past month. Our singing lessons in charge of Sr. Anna DeJong, who is a teacher in one of our largest public schools, are proving beneficial to our young people. We had a fine program in charge of the sunshine committee. Twelve little girls, dressed in costumes representing twelve nations, sang cradle songs customary to the nations. After the twelve little songs they put on nighties and caps and with lighted candles in their hands sang a good-night song in chorus. The social committee then served ice-cream and cake to the crowd of one hundred fifty-eight. Our Thanksgiving number of the "Indefinite" was edited by Bro. and Sr. Granville Trowbridge. Our lessons are very interesting and some are requesting longer time, showing the interest our young people take in the study. 2739 DeJong Street. (SR.) E. M. PATTERSON. |