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NAHE I DATE OF BIRTH DATE OF DEATH PLACE OF PRACTICE TYPE OF PRACTICE ~t~ FIRMS ASSOCIATED WITH ( ~ indicates MATERIAL AVAILABLE UNDER ) BUILDINGS ~ other 746 TMPROVEl'v!ENT ERA ship on the Lord's clay and partake of the symbolizing emblems of the body of the risen H.eclcemcr do so with a full realization that they thereby witness unto the Father that they will remember the Lord, Jesus Christ, and do that which he has commanclecl them, that they may always have his spirit to be with them. (See III Nephi 18). If there is any one single feature of value above another connected with the holy supper-aside from the blessing of the Spirit and the sanctity of the occasion, it is the importance of LEAJ\!INGTON WARD l\IEETING HOUSE ST. JOHNS ACADEMY BUILDING, ARIZONA . Ths structure, which is used for both stake and ward purposes in St. Johns, Arizona, is located in about the cente r of the town, and was erected in 1900, being dedicated in December of that year. It is built of brick with a rock foundation, and cost $14,000. The seating capacity of the main room is 300, size of the building, 76 by 58 feet, h eight 31 feet to the square. There are ten rooms. Sa1 uel Doxev 1 Ogden, Utah, architect. One acre of land is connec e with it. Oti e halt o f the lot 1s 111 la wn, enclosed by picket and iron fencl'S. Poplar and locust trees are planted on two sides of the lot. The grounds and the house are cared for by ward and schoo l janitors. under the supervision of the bishop and the president of the academy. The people in that neighborhood have felt that they were not ahlc to build houses except for schoo l purposes and these have been u sed also for Church purposes. the service rendered by those who officiate. Tn this Chmch anyone who holds the priesthood, when appointed, may officiate in some capacity. Elders or priests break the bread and prepare the wine or water, and, kneeling before the Church, pronounce the sacramental prayer. Sometimes the whole serv ice is performed This house is located at Leamington, Deseret stake, and was erected in 1910 and declicatccl in May, 1911. lt is built of brick and cn:: t $6,788. The height of the building is 14 feet to the square, o_utsicle meas11re111ent 65 by SO feet. Tt has four rooms and a seatmg capacity in the main hall of 400. There arc two acres connected with it and the people have just planted lawns ancl flower heels, trees ancl o;·namental shrubbery, on the north and cast side of the building. The sout!1 side is parked, there being at present, one hundred trees of a four-year old growth. This park contains playgrounds, seats, etc. The building is cared for hy a janitor, and the grounds are tended and kept in c.rder by the various auxi li ary organizations of the Church. The trees were planted by the ·Primary Association, the flower beds hy the Relief Society, ancl the Young Ladies' _Mutual Improvement :\ssociation, while the lawns ancl trees arc being cared for by the Young- Men's Mutual Improvement Assoication, the Sunday school and the Priestho0cl. The building lo the left is the new school house. hv priests directed hy the bishop: at other times the elders , seventies or high prie,ts, arc appointed, and each quorum is often assisted by rlcaeons. Dishops clistrihnte this honor among the various gTades of priesthood, thus affording service with its consequent pleasure to many. /\nd since the introduction of the individual drinking cup there is nothing disag-reeable to detract from the eating ;rnd the drinking, so that all who desire may partake with unalloyed pleasure. Another item that may he mentioned in this connection is the fact of the intense s::ttisfaction which comes to parents who see their sons-often young deacons-performing such holy service. Emotions that ::tre awakened in the parental breast cannot be described; they 11111st he felt to he appreciated. Tn fact, everything that connects the words of an ordinance with li fe and action takes a powerful hold on the human mind. IMPROVEMENT ERA Vor... XVII MAY, 1914 No. 7 Loud Laughter a Sin PROF. N. L. NELSON, OF TIIE WEBER ACADEMY. "Therefore, cease from all your light speeches; from all laughter; from all your lustful desires; from all your pri<lc and light mindedness, and from all your wicked doings. * * * Cast away your idle thoug·ht s vntl your excess of laughter far from you. * * * do these things with with 11111d1 thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and cou11tc11a11cl·~; laughter, for tlds is sin, 1,nt with a glad heart and a d1ccrf11l countc · 11a11ce."-Doc. and Cov., 88:121, 69; 5~:15. 11nt It is now forty years since I first read these passages ancl wonden:d that the Lord should condemn so innocent and, to 111e, so aclrniralJle a thing as hearty laughter. I am afraid that as a boy the meaning of "glad heart ancl cheerful countenance," which the Lord offers as a substitute, dill not strike my attention, and certainly no cine ever pointed it out to me. T fear also that, hy the law of contrast, my Ill ind jumped to the opposite extreme; inter·· preting- as pleasing- to heaven tile g-roa11i11g- hl'art and the lrn1g, drooping c01111tena11cc-likc that of old Brother lVfoody and old Sister Gloom who, although they were among the first to accept "Mormonism," failed to slough and leave behind them in the old country the sonr and solemn sha111s of sectarianism. As a consequence, the years from twelve to eighteen, which mark the hoocll11111 epoch in 111y career, were years of rchelliu11 and defiancl'. l had not read 1\1 ilto11's "f,' Alkgrn," Intl had it rn1t1e within my km, I should certainly have approved this stanza: t.lAJOR ]. 11. GILBERT <tJ y~ .r .\11 · · I fi · t l'tion of the Book of Mormon. The pri11cipal ~Ollll!OS!lOr '.c 1803, a11d dicll in Palmyra, Ile w:is horn in H1eJg9511l, lc9J tir~ JO months. The photo was N. Y.,. Ja1.rnary 26, s' ;WE~<<l't-;, in this 1,1umber of the E1<A, 1 or 'fable" take 11 111 his 91st year. ee ' J "] Taste thee, nymph, and bring with thee . Jest and youthful Jolity, Tmps and cranks ancl wanl'on wiles, Nods and becks ancl wreathed smiles, ~ Sport that wrinkled care derides, l.a11ghter holding both his sides." * * As it was, the hero of that silly epoch, the incarnation of my