exchanged places with Brother and Sister Lewis, we going in the motor-boat. We had a pleasant journey down the Bulahdelah River to a place called the "duck hole," where we transhipped into a large coastal vessel for the remainder of the water trip. We were delayed two hours while several boat loads of fish were transferred to the steamer. The estimated value of one boat load was one hundred and fifty dollars. Fishermen do well there. The trip across Port Stephens was delightful. It is a beautiful, natural port, second only, on these coasts, to the world-famed Sydney harbor. The steep foreshores are heavily covered with evergreen trees and with the innumerable bays and inlets make a very pleasant picture.

Arriving at Nelson's Bay, we are met by Bro. Jack Holiday with several vehicles and driven to Anna Bay, some seven miles distant. Here we held two services, one at Nelson's Bay and the other at Anna Bay, the latter being a reply to the church of England parson already referred to. Here there was more visiting, surf-bathing, shell gathering, etc. Then the journey to Newcastle was made in a sulky kindly loaned by Brother Johnson. Here we remained over Sunday, visiting and preaching, and then returned to Sydney. A week at home and then a railroad journey of one thousand miles is undertaken to ancther State. Such is the work of a missionary in this land.

The Work of. Graceland College and the Religio in Fitting Young Men to be Missionaries.

Some very active young missionaries, also some very fine missionaries' wives have graduated from the Religio and from Graceland College into active field work. As Brother Gunsolley combines two offices in one very capable person, being President of the Religio Association and Acting President of the College, we have assigned him the subject treated on in this article, and feel sure that his article will be read with interest.—EDITOR.

It seems contrary to the philosophy of the restored gospel that a study of theology, as such, should be considered as adequate, or necessary to qualify a young man for the ministry, and the work of a missionary. But upon the other hand the voice of inspiration to the Lord's people is to become acquainted with and "obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God. and man, and all this for the salvation of Zion." Again, his people are admonished to "study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people." Again, "Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning even by study, and also by faith." As more particularly pertaining to the work of the missionary, for surely the missionary should understand the "doctrine of the kingdom," notice this: "And I give unto you a commandment, that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom; teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you,

that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that is expedient for you to understand; of things both in heaven, and in earth, and under the earth; things which have been; things which are; things which shortly must come to pass; things which are at home; things which are abroad; the wars and perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land, and a knowledge also of countries, and of kingdoms, that ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again, to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you."

The acquiring of knowledge as enjoined in the foregoing is declared to be "for the salvation of Zion," and it is declared to be "in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God, that is expedient for you to understand." Then we do not need more than is comprehended in this, and certainly we ought not to be satisfied with less. Can anyone read the enumeration of the particular branches of learning contained in the above, and not see at once that it involves a complete college curriculum? It certainly is there. Are these things essential? The Lord said they were for the "salvation of Zion." Can Zion be saved without them? Not in that complete sense implied in the language, or else the Lord enjoined nonessentials. The work of Graceland comes in here as naturally as can be, as a means of assisting the Lord's people in in the acquiring of of this knowledge. We are to "teach one another." Is not this the work of Graceland? Some have to be taught in order to be able to teach others, and certainly through the college work, elements are brought together that facilitate this accomplishment.

The work of the college and the Religio are strikingly in harmony. The former attends principally to so-called secular instruction, but aims to carry it on under the best moral and spiritual influences. The latter attends primarily to religious instruction, but in such a way as to preserve the connection between the religious and secular. Both are spiritual, if carried on with an eye single to the glory of God. It is just as much of a command, in the revelations above quoted, to study of "kingdoms" and "countries," as "the law of the gospel; of things in earth, and under the earth," as of "things in heaven." The Lord said of the law of temporalities, that all his laws are spiritual, that he had not at any time given a law that is temporal. So it is with this knowledge in the different departments of learning; it is all spiritual. Hence the work of the

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Religio and that of the college are alike spiritual, if each is carried on as it should be. They, therefore, go hand in hand.

From this it is apparent that these two institutions, as well as those of the other auxiliaries, and of the church itself, have much to do in fitting young men to be missionaries. They are means in the Lord's hands in instructing and educating them in "all that pertains to the kingdom of God," as herein before enumerated, and those so instructed, other things being equal, will be much better qualified than those without such preparation. The Religio has its studies of good literature and of music and song; the college has its prayer meetings, chapel services, and historical society studying church history and doctrines; thus the work of the two overlap and coordinate nicely.

"To be learned is good, if they hearken to the counsels of God," says the Book of Mormon, which principle is readily accepted. But not as readily and so generally accepted perhaps, is this: that one who hearkens to the counsels of God may be much better qualified to do the Lord's work if he be learned in the things included in the revelations referred to, as well as in others. To argue that many men of God have accomplished great works without education received in colleges and young people's societies, does not prove that those same men would not have accomplished much more with the better preparation an education would have given them.

Learning alone never qualified any man for God's work, except he hearkened to the counsels of God, for "the wisdom of man can not find out God," and the wisdom of God is foolishness with men, considered in the light of man's learning. The college and Religio both recognize this principle, and it is kept prominently before the minds of the young men who come directly under their influence. They are ever admonished, in harmony with the Lord's command, to "seek learning by study and by faith."

That the college and Religio have done something in fitting young men for missionaries may be seen when it is known that a number of young men now occupying as such have received instruction and training in these institutions. Of course they received other training, and might have become missionaries without having had any associations in these institutions, but every one of them invariably testifies to the benefit of such association, and certainly their testimony should have consideration. Some of them tell that their first real interest in the gospel, so far as affecting their lives, was aroused in their experience, either in the college or the Religio, or both.

That many of the young men realize that the college training will help them to qualify for the ministry and to be missionaries is evident from the fact that quite a number when arranging their courses of study say that they are conscious from their patriarchal blessings and from other reasons, that their future work will be in the ministry, and they desire such studies and training as will best fit them for such calling. There are a number of such young men now in Graceland, and some are there every year.

The voice of divine inspiration is bearing testimony repeatedly to the divine approval of the work of these institutions, and to the importance of maintaining them in righteousness; and we venture the assertion that any individual who is in honest doubt, and who sincerely desires to know the truth concerning the matter, whether they are accepted of God, in order to place himself more fully in harmony with God and his work, if he will put forth a proper effort in prayer and supplication, without prejudice, the Lord will give him the evidence in some way to his satisfaction.

I trust that it will not be thought that because the writer is intimately connected with both institutions that therefore he is prejudiced in their favor and can not see the other side. Prejudice may exist. Eighteen years of service in the Religio, sixteen of which has been in the capacity of president of the General Society, and fifteen years as a member of the faculty of Graceland, half as many years as a trustee, and two years as acting president, may have created some prejudice. But during all those years he has desired above everything else that the work of God might prosper, and he has prayed as fervently as he was capable of doing, and as resignedly as it seemed possible to do, that the Lord would overrule and direct in these and all other matters. He has been willing to sacrifice as might be necessary in order to contribute his mite to the building up of the kingdom of righteousness. And in all his experiences, some of them under severe trial, he has been confirmed more and more that the Lord's hand is over these institutions, that they have been, and will continue to be, a great power for good in the accomplishment of the great work of restoration and restitution, and that it is his will that they should be sustained, and that he will bless those who labor in them and help to support them and build them up in righteousness.

A humble worker with you,

J. A. GUNSOLLEY.

Religio Standard of Excellence. For Locals in Northern California District. Adopted by the district convention held at Sacramento, February 24, 1911.

Point 1. Full set of officers as per constitution and by-laws of Z. R.-L. S., also chorister, organist, editor, and corresponding secretary.

2. Regular meetings once every week during the year, except for good and reasonable excuses, decided so by the local.

3. Average attendance sixty per cent of the total enrollment. 4. Society represented by at least one delegate to each semiannual district convention.

5. Fifty per cent of the average attendance used on the program per quarter.

6. Ten cents per capita tax per year to be raised for good literature and library work.

7. One monthly twenty minute lecture on Book of Mormon or reading from any good work on archaeology.

8. Book of Mormon and Religio quarterlies in circulation during lesson period.

9. A parliamentary drill once a quarter.

10. A normal class.

A Religio attaining the ten points is a first grade society or local. A Religio attaining points 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8, a second grade society or local.

PAULINE O. NAPIER, District Secretary.

2130 JAY STREET, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

Are Prophets Needed To-day.

Whenever the same gospel is presented to the people of to-day, that was taught by those prophets, teachers, etc., anciently, we understand many are not ready to accept it unless revelation from God and prophets, and, in fact, the very best principles of the doctrine of Christ be eliminated from their creed.

In order to prove the necessity of prophets to-day we will first note in the book of Revelation 22: 18, 19:

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." John, the writer of the book of Revelation, had reference only to the book which he had just written; for the books of the New Testament had not then been compiled into one volume as they are at the present time. These letters and books composing the New Testament were widely scattered, and the Apostle John simply had reference to the one book he was then writing.

But, nevertheless, the principle it teaches is applicable to every revelation that God has ever given to man, whether the revelation be long or short, whether it contains ten words or ten thousand words, man has no right to add to or take from anything that God has given.

We must observe, however, there is nothing said about whether he will give more revelation or whether he will withhold. He places this restriction upon man, and leaves himself free to do as seemeth him good.

Inspired writers, from Moses to John the Revelator, have informed us through their writings that "man" must not add to nor take from anything which God has revealed. That every word of God is pure, that the law of the Lord is perfect; but during all this time the Lord kept right on giving precept upon precept. When men lacked wisdom and went to God in prayer and faith, the Lord heard their prayers and gave them the necessary wisdom as was promised in James 1:5. Now we learn that the Savior, in organizing his church, placed in it officers of which prophets were named among them. We also read in Luke 10: 2 the Lord's people were