applicable at present, and just as forceful, as in the time of William E. M'Lellin. Any one who doubts may apply the test to-day, tomorrow, or at any time; though, as the author of our new manual very wisely says, "it is a most dangerous thing to do."

In

As a revelation containing an applicable test, section sixtyseven is, then, of especial interest and value to us. And the value is evident and important, even without making an actual application of the test. Let us suppose for a moment that Joseph Smith was never at any time divinely inspired-that he was nothing better than an unscrupulous impostor. It must be conceded then that he was a man of remarkable ability, though his education was limited. The Book of Mormon alone is a monumental work. all its pages, from the lesser plates of Nephi, from Mormon's abridgement of the greater plates, from the record of Zeniff, from the story of Jared and his brother, and from other interpolated parts, there is not a single contradiction, not a single absurd doctrine or conclusion. On the other hand, the book shows a steady growth and development of the story; it reveals a philosophic system of theology; it displays perfect harmony between it and the Holy Bible. Again, in the many revelations contained in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, there are no contradictory statements there is no obscuration of the doctrine of the Christ, there is no confusion in the duties of officers or members. On the contrary, the book is so clear that the whole Church is built up after its directions. There is no essential point of Church doctrine that was not revealed by Joseph Smith; there is no point of Church organization or discipline that was not provided for by Joseph Smith. Certainly then, if he were an impostor, he must have been a man of clear insight, of remarkable analytical power; of wonderful executive ability.

Now, if an impostor possessed the capability of successfully producing a work so complicated as the Book of Mormon, and of foisting upon the world a system of philosophy so nearly perfect as "Mormonism," and further, of effecting a Church organization far more perfect than that of the German army, -is it credible that he would throw into the face of the world a test of his labors so simple, and yet so infallible, as that contained in section sixtyseven of the Doctrine and Covenants? Consider again the fact

that Joseph Smith was an unlettered man, that he had little skill in literary art. Remember further, that many of his followers, in his own day, were far more highly gifted in the way of the world than he. Would he then dare these men of superior literary ability to write a single revelation equal to the least of his? Remember also that we of today have better educational advantages than even the most favorably situated of Joseph's day. Would then an impostor, so farsighted as Joseph Smith seems to have been, have left on record a challenge for all succeeding generations to write a single revelation equal to the least of his? Would not, rather, an intelligent impostor refrain from calling undue attention to his purported revelations? Would he not certainly exercise the utmost care not to prescribe any test whereby those revelations might be detected as false? And if by any chance some foolish test had been allowed to creep into the would-be sacred word, would not the impostor or his friends eagerly seize the first opportunity to expunge that test, and even the whole revelation in which it was contained? Certainly, a man who had planned his work so well as Joseph Smith-were he an impostor-planned his, would not be guilty of so gross an oversight as to leave among his printed revelations so easy a test as that in section sixty-seven.

The conclusion of the whole matter has, of course, been long self-evident. We are grateful to Joseph Smith for fearlessly giving the unbelieving world a test that may be applied to his work at any time. But the fair-minded man will see that an application of the test is unnecessary. The very fearlessness of Joseph's assertion that no uninspired man can write a revelation equal to the least of his, is evidence of his good faith and of his divine assurance. No mere impostor would dare place so unqualified a challenge before all the world.

Salt Lake City, Utah.

THE GATHERING.

TUNE:-Onward, Christian Soldiers, BY DR. A. SULLIVAN.

Forward, ever forward,
'Long the narrow way;
Hold the rod of iron

Till that dreadful day,
Christ, our King and Master,
With the saints of old,
Come and meet with Zion,

There shall be one fold;

Glorious our glory.

To this end endure,

Dwelling with our Father

RANDY.

BY ELVIN J. NORTON, SUPERINTENDENT Y. M. M. I. A.,

POCATELLO STAKE.

III.

On ordinary occasions Henry would not have enjoyed being so far from ready when he was called for: but in this instance he was very glad he had a plausible excuse to offer that he might have time to control his emotions. The hurry of completing his preparations partly restored him, and in a short time he ventured to join his sister. She was attired neatly in a plain dress, which did service in more places than the ball room. Her one extra ornament was a sprig of holly across her breast. She did not forget to ask him who was behind this time, nor suppress a laugh at his expense when he hesitated to answer. He took advantage of this jocular moment and the partial darkness to thank her for the Christmas present, without showing any outward signs of the emotion that had so affected him.

"I'm glad you like it," she said. "I wanted Santa Claus to bring it to you after you'd gone to sleep; but mother thought it would be better to let you have it earlier. Santa Claus has Randy's, anyhow, and will bring it at the regular time. But come on. Don't you think they've waited long enough?"

"All right, I'm ready," he said quickly. mother, since you don't seem to be going.

we'll try to be good."

"Good night,

Go to bed and rest;

This last sentence surprised Mrs. Palmer and Rachel; for unimportant as it might be if spoken by any one else, it was very

different from any promise they had heard for a long time from Henry. The darkness, however, hid their inquiring glances; and the mother ventured no farther than to give him an unusually long embrace when he stooped over her for a parting kiss. "Good night, children," she said, after kissing them both. "Have a good time; and look out for Randy."

They hastened down the path and got into the sleigh. George Davis slackened his reins, and the impatient horses started out, marking their quick steps with a regular jingle that sounded clear and wild in the cold, still night. Henry had not seen such happy moments for many months; and Rachel was troubled by only one thing-the unsatisfactory way in which her conversation with Randy had ended; but as she had no fears for Randy's safety, she, too, was happier than for a long time before, not only because of the gay company, the pleasant ride and the beautiful night, but most of all because of Henry's changed spirit. She therefore led out in a familiar song, which was joined in by all in the sleigh; and their merry voices and the jingling bells united in a chorus that sent Christmas music ringing over the snow-covered fields and even into the homes and hearts of the neighbors.

But the song was only half finished; for the spirited horses soon covered the mile between Palmer's and the schoolhouse, and the merry singers had to answer calls and greetings from their friends when the sleigh stopped before the gate. George suggested that the others go at once into the schoolhouse while he secured the team to one of the fence rails.

"O, sha'n t we wait for you?" asked Rachel.

“No, go on in," said George; "I want to blanket the horses, and it's too cold for you to wait out here so long;" and without staying for further argument, he drove past several teams that were already tied to the fence, and stopped at the first available space beyond them; while Henry and Rachel led the way to the schoolhouse.

The room was well filled when they entered, but the sound of more voices at the gate and more bells in the distance was evidence that it would soon be overcrowded. Henry and Rachel, after going to the farther end of the room and placing their wraps on the platform under the musicians' bench, sat down and waited