trine of Christ. (Hebrews 6:1, 2.) Christ, as before stated, declared that the doctine which He taught was the doctrine of His Father. Therefore, in order to be in harmony with God, we must accept of the ordinance of the laying on of hands, as well as the other principles and ordinances before mentioned. But this is not all: if we are desirous of becoming perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect, we must live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. In no other way can we become one with Him.-W. A. M.

THE POWER OF FAITH AND PRAYER.

I WOULD just like to testify (through the MILLENNIAL STAR) of God's power in healing the afflicted. As is my custom, I arose on Friday morning, January 24th, at 5 a.m., and was in the cellar a few minutes later for the purpose of bringing some coals. There was a short piece of plank lying in my way, so I just picked it up and threw it to another part of the cellar. As it was falling it struck a piece of kindling wood that was on the floor and drove it with great force straight into my right eye, making a wound in the eyeball and damaging the eyelid. As a result I was totally blind in the injured eye and suffered much pain if I tried to use the other eye, or even to speak a few words. In fact, the pain in my head and the effect on my system is beyond my description. After being put to bed I made special prayer to my Father for deliverance, and my wife also interceded in my behalf. Immediately after I felt the healing influence come into my eye. I was at first gradually relieved of all the severe pain, and then a work of healing took place and I am thankful to say has been going on since. We also sent for the elders, and Elders James Nisbet, William Lester, and Josiah Eardley came and administered to me in the evening, when we again experienced more power and a splendid influence of the Spirit, which has been with us more or less since. There was one brother who saw the wound in the eyeball the day of the accident, but the day following could find no trace of the wound, although the eye was discolored and is yet. We can say that although the accident was a severe trial, especially as Sister Forsythe had been up only a few times after a month's confinement with a serious illness, yet we found it a blessing in more than one way, and have learned several valuable lessons. We also feel sure God will give us a complete deliverance in due course. We have had neither doctor nor medicine, for which I thank God. Hoping these few words may prove helpful to those who are looking to God for healing,

I remain your brother in the restored gospel,
JAMES FORSYTHE.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

THE following beautiful composition was found in Charlestown, S. C., during the war. It is printed on very heavy yellow satin and is quite a literary curiosity. It is now the property of B. B. Mann, a veteran well known in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Thou to the mercy-seat our souls dost gather,

To do our duty to thee, OUR FATHER.

To whom all praise, all honor should be given;
For thou art the great God-WHO ART IN HEAVEN.
Thou by Thy wisdom rulest the world's whole frame,
Forever therefore, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.

Let never more delay divide us from

Thy glorious grace, but let THY KINGDOM COME.
Let Thy commands opposed be by none,

But Thy good pleasure and THY WILL BE DONE.
And let our promptness to obey be even
The very same-IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
Then for our soul, O Lord, we also pray
Thou wouldst be pleased to GIVE US THIS DAY
The food of life, wherewith our souls are fed
Sufficient raiment and OUR DAILY BREAD,
With every needful thing do Thou relieve us,

And of Thy mercy, pity-AND FORGIVE US.

All our misdeeds in Him, whom Thou didst please

To make an offering for OUR TRESPASSES,

And for as much, O Lord, as we believe

That Thou will pardon us, AS WE FORGIVE

Let that love teach, where with Thou dost acquaint us

To pardon all THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US,
And though sometimes Thou findest we forgot
This love for Thee, yet help AND LEAD US NOT
Through soul or body's want to desperation,
Nor, let earth's gain drive us INTO TEMPTATION.
Let not the soul of any true believer

Fall in the time of trial, BUT DELIVER

Yea, save them from the malice of the devil,

And both in life and death keep US FROM EVIL.
Thus pray we, Lord, for that of Thee, from whom
This may be had, FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,
This world is Thy work; the wondrous story

To thee belongs THE POWER AND GLORY,

And all Thy wondrous works have ended never,

But will remain forever and FOREVER.

Thus we poor creatures would confess again,

And thus would say eternally AMEN!

THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1908.

AS TO KEEPING AND REPORTING ACCOUNTS.

WE have already offered some suggestions to conference presidents and clerks in regard to the proper keeping of records. We now present a few more hints to aid them in keeping financial accounts in such a way that they will be easily understood and, when necessary, reported.

Each conference should be supplied with a small ledger, a tithing ledger and a cash book. A cash book has been made up in excellent shape to harmonize with the monthly financial report, containing instructions as to how it should be kept, and each conference has, or should have, one of these books, and the instructions given should be followed closely and regularly. Any ordinary ledger can be used for "the small ledger" in which accounts should be posted according to the instructions in the cash book, and a trial balance taken off each month on the form explained in the cash book. A suitable form for a tithing ledger is now in preparation at this office, and one will be forwarded to each conference as soon as it is completed. If these books are kept as desired, there will be no real difficulty in making up the financial reports at the end of the year for the office of the Presiding Bishopric.

Now, as to the headings under which expenditures should be listed. It is desirable that these accounts should be kept in a uniform manner throughout the mission. The following headings appear in the forms for monthly reports:

"Paid to Poor (out of poor fund)."

This is sufficiently plain so that "he who runs may read,” and he who reads may understand. Only that which is paid out of the poor fund, not out of tithing or any other fund, is to be listed here. "Elders' Expense (out of mission fund)."

This means simply donations received for the purpose of assisting the elders, and does not justify in any instance the payment of tithing money for this purpose, nor money from any other source than that indicated.

"Book Expense."

This should include money paid for express or postage on books or STARS; for wrappers or any other expense in the book business;

and the amount thus expended should be deducted from the book money collected, and the balance be remitted to the Liverpool office.

"Hall Rents (out of tithing)."

This means only money paid for rent of meeting places.

"House Rents (out of tithing)."

No expenditures are to be made under this head unless first authorized by the mission president. Ordinarily there is no need for this heading. Money should not be expended simply because a heading is provided for it in the form for reports.

"House Maintenance (out of tithing)."

That also is superfluous as no such expenditure is authorized ordinarily in this mission.

"Taxes (out of tithing)."

The same remarks will apply to this case.

"Books, Tracts, etc., for missionaries."

The same remarks will also apply in this particular.

"Stamps, Stationery, etc. (out of tithing)."

Under this heading should be charged conference office expenses such as postage, blank books, letter heads, pens, ink, etc.

"Incidental Expenses (out of tithing)."

Under this heading should be listed expenses for baptisms and anything out of the ordinary outlays provided for under such headings.

Vouchers are required for all disbursements. This has not been complied with in a number of instances. Blanks for vouchers will be supplied from this office on order from the conference president. In the case of small expenditures for which it is not practical to obtain a voucher, they should be all listed and itemized on a separate voucher once a month and signed by the conference president. These vouchers should accompany the monthly financial report sent to this office, in every instance.

In making financial reports to the Liverpool office please omit the halfpence. They should be marked on the local account books, but not on the reports sent to this office. This will save us some trouble and be no detriment to the conference accounts.

We desire to impress upon the brethren the necessity of sending in their monthly reports promptly. Some of them linger along to a late date, making it impossible for us to include them in our monthly report to headquarters. The Leeds conference makes it a rule to hold the monthly priesthood meeting on the last day of the month, when all labor reports are required to be made, and then the conference clerk is able to send in the conference report in due time. If every branch will send to the conference president its report on the Monday immediately succeeding the last Sunday in the month, no matter on what date it falls, the matter will be

greatly facilitated. Then if the labor reports are handed in on the last day of the month everything can be duly reported to the Liverpool office. When the financial monthly report is ready there need be no waiting for the labor report, but it should be forwarded as promptly as possible.

We have endeavored to make these few simple matters as plain as possible, for the guidance of our brethren who have not been accustomed to keeping books, and for the benefit of new hands called to the work by the conference presidents, so as not to confine elders too long in office work, but to give them the opportunity of laboring in the general missionary field. Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. We expect the conference presidents to oversee all this clerical work, for they are held responsible, and vigilance is required in the rendering of accounts in the branches as well as in the conference offices.

A splendid system of keeping financial accounts prevails in the offices of the First Presidency and the Presiding Bishopric, so that every individual is credited with the amounts donated for tithing or other purposes, and a strict account is kept and rendered of every sum, however small, that is received or expended. We hope that all our brethren will be interested in having the accounts kept according to order and reported in due form at the time and in the way required. This is part of our duty. We should be as diligent in its performance as in proclaiming the message which we have to bear to the world, and in imparting instruction to the Latter-day Saints and to each other. Let none of us be counted as “a slothful and unprofitable servant.”

C. W. P.

IN the MILLENNIAL STAR for January 23rd, 1908, appeared in the departures from Scandinavia the names James R. Petersen and R. J. Petersen, whereas they should have been Richard Andersen and P. J. Petersen.

An "Outsider" Defends the "Mormons."--A pamphlet of sixteen pages has just been published, giving the views of a gentleman not connected with the Latter-day Saints, in regard to their character, and refuting many of the absurd stories put in print concerning "Mormonism" and the "Mormons," and particularly the errors occurring in a pretended account of "Mormonism" given in an Encyclopædia. The writer was moved upon to publish this pamphlet because of the refusal of certain newspapers to print his corrections of falsehoods that appeared in their columns. speaks from acquaintance with many of the elders of the Church, and from a close study of the subject from both sides. In order to bring the cost within reach of every one who desires correct information, it is to be sold at one penny per copy. No doubt many of the elders would like to have this little work to dis

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