Chapter I: Foreword

Most of the contents of this volume appeared originally as a series of articles in Saturday issues of the Deseret Evening News, beginning October 26, 1918, and ending May 31, 1919. As stated by the News, these articles "were designed to fill in some degree a spiritual void and meet a special need of those who were in the habit of attending Sunday services, but were denied that privilege by the prevalence of the influenza epidemic." That epidemic caused a suspension of public gatherings for several months, and even made necessary the postponement of one General Conference of the Church.

It was during this period of suspension that these contributions to the Church organ began. They were given place on the editorial page, and subsequently the News said of them: "These 'Thoughts' have subserved a far more than temporary and passing purpose--they have stimulated study and deep reflection, and they have been greatly enjoyed and prized by the thoughtful reader everywhere."

Among those who uttered similar sentiments was President George H. Brimhall, of the Brigham Young University, who, in a letter to the author, expressed the hope that provision would be made for publication of the essays in book form, "thus adding one more choice volume to Latter-day Saint literature, especially suited to the needs of students at home and missionaries abroad." Like expressions came from President Heber J. Grant, Senator Reed Smoot, President John A. Widtsoe, of the University of Utah, and many other prominent people.

In response to this cordial, widespread sentiment of appreciation, and under the sanction of the General Authorities of the Church, the "Saturday Night Thoughts" were compiled for republication, and the result is here presented.

May, 1921

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS

_Part One--Our Place In History_

Article One: The Saturday Evening of Time

Article Two: The Watch On The Tower

Article Three: Concerning Names and Vocations

Article Four: The Choice Seer

Article Five: The Land of Zion

_Part Two--Seership and Prophecy_

Article Six: What Joseph Beheld

Article Seven: What Joseph Foretold

Article Eight: Looking Westward

Article Nine: The Place of Safety

_Part Three.--A Marvel and a Wonder_

Article Ten: The Wisdom That Perishes

Article Eleven: The God Story

Article Twelve: The Great Vicissitudes

Article Thirteen: The Gospel Dispensations

_Part Four.--A Glance Down the Ages_

Article Fourteen: The Adamic Age

Article Fifteen: Enoch and His City

Article Sixteen: Noah and the Deluge

Article Seventeen: Abraham and the House of Israel

Article Eighteen: Moses and Aaron

Article Nineteen: To the Ends of the Earth

_Part Five.--In Time's Meridian_

Article Twenty: The Lamb of God

Article Twenty-one: The Special Witnesses

_Part Six.--The Era of Restitution_

Article Twenty-two: The Call of the Shepherd

Article Twenty-three: The Zion of Latter Days

Article Twenty-four: Redemption by Power

Article Twenty-five: Clearing the Way

Article Twenty-six: God's Hand Upon the Nations

Article Twenty-seven: The Consummation

_Part Seven.--Powers and Principles_

Article Twenty-eight: The Priesthood

Article Twenty-nine: Church Government

Article Thirty: The Law of Obedience

Article Thirty-one: The Divine Doorway

Article Thirty-two: The Second Birth

Article Thirty-three: Meaning and Mode of Baptism

Article Thirty-four: The Gospel's Accessories

Article Thirty-five: What Are Miracles?

Article Thirty-six: The Mainspring of Power

_Part Eight.--Beyond the Horizon_

Article Thirty-seven: The Spirit World

Article Thirty-eight: Spirit Promptings

Article Thirty-nine: Do the Dead Return?

Article Forty: The Goal Eternal

NAMES AND ABBREVIATIONS

The usual Bible abbreviations are retained.

Hist. Ch. stands for History of the Church.

D. & C. for Doctrine and Covenants.

Nephi, Jacob, Omni, Mormon, Mosiah, Alma and Ether, will be recognized as names belonging to the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Moses, shortened to Moses, and the Book of Abraham, abbreviated to Abr., will be found within the lids of the Pearl of Great Price.

Other abbreviations, such as vol. for volume, p. or pp. for page or pages, v. or vv. for verse or verses and ib. for ibid (the same) are in such common use as scarcely to require mention.