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Show " ..p. i 8 THE DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1940 w ,. - . ', , Church Deparli2en,,: , , , ' T:b:'V.'0.1-:,Q- The Church 1 , (Following is the Ica of the address delivered at the regular Sunday afternoon servIces in the Tabernacle, and brostionst over Station KSL, last -Sunday, Aug. 25, '.' . , , , MANKIND is rapidly approaching - J I I 1 of our democracy not menacing weakness, thoughtlessness and which approach a shameiprodigslity ful betraYal of democracy itself. When we, the heirs of democracy, forget that democracy with all DI precious gifts of freedom to the common man is the offspring of Christianity, we are guilty of spurning our birthright for only .rev'eals but exposes a, ,a a mess of .pottage. , follows: , 0 ., World, thou choose4t , not the better, ' part! It Is not wisdom to be only Losewise,i .... And on the inward vision - - ,q.WLMeNi.X'o,, 1 :. .,. ,,,,i,:: Y ,, ,2,: - ,.1.:,:., ,, s,c::::::, , .,., .. ,,,ki - - .!4: sour.s-invincib- - o'l, - ,' ,. pihe That.liehtsrIe pathway but one step ,..... ahead , . Across a void of mystery and dread. Bid, then, the tender light Of faith to . vine," Trcter-than less. di- , The same plight of the heirs of democracy is criticized by Dr. Henry C, Link in these words: "Religion has been called the refuge of weak minds. Psychologically thd weakness lies rather in the failure of minds to recognize the weakness of all minds. With all the developments of modern science, with all the general and higher education peculiar to the United States, and with all the mechanical aids to understanding and inteltigence supplied by our means of rapid communication, the nation is. floundering as it never has done before. There have in thn past been conflicts over slavery, states' rights, free silver, the tariff, prohibition, and other issues from time to time. Now there are conflicts over innumerable issues all at once, niost of them centering around mathematital and mechanical schemes for a more abundant economic life. , - - shine alone the mortal heart is which By led Unto the thinking of the' thought y - )0()T4,5 - OF SCRIPTURES The Latter-daSaints owe their as an existence organized body to very the fact that to their care have been entrusted scriptures which increase - man's.knowledge of Jesu.4n Christ. We, therefore,for the ,purpose of "convincing the Jew and the Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting hifnself unto all nations" We offers tlie Book of MorMott.also offer the revelations of the Lord Jesus to the prophet Joseph Smith irt our Book of Doctrine and Covenants. These we offer to increase mankind's knowledge of Jesus Christ. If ye know Him, you will love Him. If you love Him, you will glad. .. ly and fervently apply the wisdom of His teaaiings to the enrichment of your life. wilLremember,l-lis- , the Sab, bath Day and you will keep it holy by using it as a day of rest, a day of worship and a flay for doing good. In fact, in this latter sense every day will be a Sabbath. 14. Your prayerful and though4u1 reading of the scriptures, both ancient and modern, will ilidminate your understanding of the wisdom of His interpretation and application of the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes and the GUARDIANS ,',...,.,,,,::;,A,,i;:...5:::,,,,..4,..,, ' ,', But it is wisdom to believe the heart Columbus found a world, and had no ,' chart, Save one that faith deciphered in the 'skies; surmise To trust the Was all his science and his only art.. cf smoky Our ktepedge is a torch norant. :::.;::.....'4....,:::,7,..;;t:::::::::::::::...i!,';'.': ,, ..:,',4 . g .,::',.:,,!;;,,,, ' i ,i The democratic concepts of liberty, equality and fraternity, with the companion principle of the dignity of the common man, derive from the Christian doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Therefore, individuals who enjoy the libekies of democracy, but who LOST BASIC VALUES Spurn the sources from which these "Many of these schemes have been liberties spring expose themselves and the shining lights of our proposed the entire structure to weakness Intellectualby Their exponents have age. which threatens the whole with col.' In common one prevading characterislapse. tic, namely an unbounded intellectual Furthermore, when democracy re- - arrogance, in which a supercilious contemnt for the simple and basic values leased many new liberties to be exera cised by the common man, it added to of human nature is coupled with fatuous of in faith the omnipotence the crises, common to his life, numer- - their ambitious ,plans. The fact that ous other crises inherent in his new the plans of one contradict the plans status as a free man. Many decisions of another is inevitable when minds and choices which theretofore had have cast loose their anchors to bebeen made by his., political rulers and liefs and traditions more basic than rulers of his ' by the "The more we know;- the less we conscience, the free man must no' know; the less we know of the basic make for himself. Where, formerly, values of life and of character, which he had only to do as he was told, he are religious, often unreasonable, and In the last analysis, beyond reamust now decide and act for himself. son. The mind, coupled to religion, DISSIPATION OF LIBERTIES is a stronger mind for it, a rnind not This was a precarious stage. Demoso readily swayed by the passions craticman. given his freedom to wor- - that parade as reason under an enship GM according to the dictates of larged vocabulary. But ,in deifying 'conscience, yet without experience in the mind we have abandoned Cod. We without knowledge and have become the fools of reason and the dupes of scientific truth." (Return .w4hotit wisdom or understanding of to Religion.) true religion. has dissipated his liberGOSPEL IS SOURCE OF DEMOCRA ties by choosing not to worship at all CY Tlv this disposition he cuts himself Life in a democracy is fraught for the individual with more crises than ,,away from. his anchorage to the In. ,finite and undertakes to pilot his own is life in any other form of govern-- , ment. These rrisesarise naturally ..of his own finiteness. In out of even the most commonplace wisdom situations in which the individual every crisis thereafter he Is damtled must choose and act for himself. In a democracy, therefore, the inby his. own human limitatiors. dividual needs inore:wisdom rather George Sanfayana describes the , r"-- , go to the Bible. The Bible is still the most widely read book in the World. The serene and thoughtful people of the world still read it. It is, however, a source of Joy of which the pleasure-seekinsophisticates of the world are ig- , : ' ' s ' By Elder A. Homer Reiser ' g , sue ) heirs to democracy as . le it. This aspect plight of ri The , Religion And Cnses Of Life 1940.) a crisis of major character. How well we as individuals may act In this crisis will depend in good part upon' how' well we 'act in the smaller crises of life. Poe' triaf reason I have chosen to speak today upon Religion and the crises of Life. The many liberties which constitute democracy's gift to man were dehisand to exalt signed to enrich have inherwe, him, However, . Sited these liberties, have exercised at least one of them to our impoverishment. In this one liberty the founders of our democracy were strong, where we are weak. Freedom of conscience, originally Intended to secure to the individual the right to worship God according to the dictates of conscience has been of too many of tarried inthe-live- s tis to the extreme of freedom from 'conscience and the right to worship is too frequently practised as the right not to worship at all. Too many Americans not only neglect religion far too Many have wholly abandoned . To preserve the demo-spirit- ,- cratie purpose and fruits he needs 'wisdom born from the source from which democracy itself was born Gospel of Jesus Christ. Democracy today and alTays'needs the meek,p,e'ss, the magnanimity, the unselfishness of the Christian spirit.. devotion, It needs the of Christian zeal.. It needs thoa, ltrvor of Christian faith and the dignity and the power of Christian righteousness. E.veryday life in Ameriea for all of us as individuals will require more rather than less of. religion. The crises of dailyo life can be safely m4 and passed only when we are firmly anchored by moral principle and spiritual power. We need more of the fortitude, and longsuffering patience of Christian virtue, more of the integrity of Christian character. These needs were clearly seen in 1931' by the Commission called by President Hoover to formulate the ,,charter of the rights of American chil' dren. That charter declares the primary right of the children of America to be "For every child moral and spiritual training to help him to stand firm under the pressure of lite." A mental hygienist adds his testimony in these words: ,"The religious type of character, serene, fearless, loving, patient, but not free from consuming emotions, loyal to the good, is the type, other things being equal, best adaPted to maintain, mental health." (D. W. LaRue.) self-seekin- PROMISE OF LORD Above all, Latter-daSaints cherish the promise of the Lord found in the Book of Mormon (Ether 2:12): This is a choice 'land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the Cod of the Land, who is Jesus Christ. We will worship the God of this land, who is Jesus Christ, and wor-ship Him joyously, if we know Him. The better we know Him, the more we will love Him. And He, Himself, has said: "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments." Many sincere and earnest people have desired' to know Him and have come to love Him. Such people-freeland cheerfully share their knowledge of and enthusiasm for Him with their fellowmen througt sermons and books. It is good to see how He captivates 'and inspires the honest in heart, It is better for us, however, if we know Him for ourselves:: We can thus come to know Him by pleasant, prayerful and thougyilul reading from the 'source. books of information about Him. We should first - Golden Rule. You will see clearly the every day applications of the Parables. The crises in your own life will be laluenced by the wisdom you have gained from knowing Him. EFFECT ON YOUR OWN LIFE The direct outcomes in your life from these experiences will be that your thoughts and attitudes will be purified. Selfishness will have disappeared in the light of the promise that "Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." There will be no trace of sensuality, no hint of triviality, no vestige- of hatred, or envy, or covetousness; no idleness or sloth. Rattp there, will be serenity, ma. jestic fortitude . and patience. There will be manifest in your life' the geniality, ease and charm of manner which mark everyone who has a sincere affection for his fellowmen. Your thoughts, expressions and decisions will be clothed with wisdom and discernment v'''hich come with His l, Spirit. Your thoughts, your- - heart, your life will be so full of beauty and goodness and truth and you Will find such great joy in giving it all away, that the only room left for getting will be the getting of greater capacitY and power to give more away. You will be a better person to meet, to live and to workwith and a more delightful person to know: All this will come of your know-log and serving the Cod of this land, who is 'Jesus Christ. The moment you decide to do this and begin to devote yourself to this purpose will be a turning point, a crisis of the first Magnitude in your life. Welfare (Continued From Page 2) as members of the sponsibility Chur,ch of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints to get back to fundamentals. We have in our present Church Welfare Plan The foundation upon which we can build to meet any valet"- gency. It isn't, a new plan It has always existed. It can be made as vital in our lives today as It was in , 1856. ' |
