Show discipline AND CULTURE A lecture electure delivered in logan temple july ad 1887 7 HY BY IDA IONE COOK at this period of the worlds history when temptations beset us on every side how necessary that we should fortify ourselves in the strongest position atta leable to avoid the shafts aimed at us ua by the arch enemy little do we understand my friends the amount of valuable time we have permitted to pass by unheeded fraught with tae lessons of tae hour flour the prep lops time we have wasted because we have failed ailed to profit dy by the words qt counsel and revelation given unto us by the prophets and servants of the fhe host 1 high 11 f any among you have not awa end LQ toe U necessities of the monr let me urge yon from this time lime forth acae i let we me urge you to lo discipline dispi plino yourselves and your fam fain Ili esin accordance with the commands of our father who is a 4 bod of love mercy patience and justice ustice but it his instructions and commands are not heeded and obeyed his on ildreD must suffer tha tb penalty of disobedience there are many instances in the bible relating to the destruction of and whole nations for disobey disobeying beying ing the commands of the lot lo d and the warnings of his prophets but to in 0 no o instance has this occurred without due notice and time being given lor for all ho would heed understand and believe to escape all present have listened repeatedly to the teachings of those these having antho authority tho rity have listened to prophecies made which have been literally fulfilled have listened to others which we know will have their f fulfillment in the near future we have our bible from which we may learn innumerable instances of how bow the people and leaders were held accountable t f r disobeying the laws of god and for not heeding the voice and admonitions of his servants if we read carefully we find that prophecies were literally f fulfilled al filled at the time appointed and we also find many to be fulfilled in this our day and the close observer of the signs of the times realizes that liter al fulfillment is near a at band an the e emissaries of lucifer know that their day is short and they are crowding as many obet obstacles acles before us as they can to turn us aside from the paths patha of 01 righteousness we also find many lessons containing instruction that will aid us in all the affairs and duties of life if we will only discipline ourselves rigidly by those laws thus preparing our faculties to receive the teachings of the spirit that opens the eyes or of our understanding der ferstanding standing and bears testimony to each oue one of ox KB it we will only teed heed buskin a great art critic crilio and political eco economist nomiA JM is said to have thy the most analytic mind in europe in his hid autobiography he attributes his powers of mind to the influence of the lessons taught to him film by his mother from he bible re he states that on the first day ot of january the first chapter 0 genesis was read and on the last day ot december the twenty second ter of revelations Ke oas and then the first chapter of genesis again he was required to commit to memory many entire chapters and portions of chapters his mother was very calef careful ua to have him film understand the meaning as well as to repeat the exact words word buskin states stales that he has found great comfort and satisfaction from the pas sages learned and nd that on momentous moment momen bu tou occasions to in his bis life an appropriate passage of coming to hit hh mind has enabled enable him to decide wise ly daniel webster the orator ol of america attributed his bis superior elo quence to the discipline and culture acquired at his mothers eid side efrom frow t is book of books in addition to this gem of great val ue we have also another taken from the earth which seems to me shine with equal glubt r and the radiance ol of its rays raya penetrates the dense mist and reaches the heart of many poor crest creat ures in every clime by a careful perusal of its pages he who has accustomed himself to think as tie lie reads may profit by the expert denpe of others and thereby avoid many pitfalls and dangerous precipices lit tie lie rocks and huge mountains found in the eventful journey of life we all ah try to avoid the precipice and travel around the mountain but the pitfall skillfully concealed under some enticing pleasure and the little rocks over which we stumble daily require great er strength of mind and powers ol of endurance to foresee and avoid thin the steep sleep precipice and huge hu gt mountain if we do nut resist th pe pebbles boles idle thoughts words deeds we find them rapidly increase in s size w and number and lo 10 we are on the brink of the precipice huge boulder bou 8 and mountains shut off the path of of retreat light of inspiration is seen darkly as thi oubri a glass and w we e are soon plunged into the darkness of destruction st d too and unbelief G god j in his great love and mercy has also given us through ais servants servant other aids to guide us in our journey the book of Doctrine jand covenants key to theology voice of warning petri perl pe rl of great price discourses let and revelations from these many sources we should learn and teach our children ever asking tor for divine guidance and aid in understand ing ad appropriating the parts we most need and storing them away tor for use in time of need snow now my friends friend sI fear if we attempt to elc a sto 0 ur selves and say we have no time to read and reflect upon these things of such importance to us we anon back in sorrow anti and see the be land marks which ch have guided us juto the pitfall of ignorance so carefully covered by tie hurry and bustle ever attending atten attend dins iov the business of life still urging us aa onward with theal the alluring laring prom seef se of great treasures to be obtained bained bayaud by and baand then we will have time joae ano ani mans m ans to devote to the work of the master but what beco becomes roes of oar children in the i lo do 10 not they partake of theace the anio tanio t spirit and think by and by wi I 1 be time enough while waiting for the promised by and by the weeda of selfishness indifference unbelief and disobedience are cultivated and become strong hardy plants crowding out love self denial faith slid obedi euce when hen too late the anxious parent eula exclaims ilos I 1 have bave so influence I 1 can do nothing with my child ch id evil e v I 1 associates have led hipa him or her a away w donot do not let us so dec ive our ourselves e isy es we have been slack in our discipline we have permitted john or mary to come and go without question og and ancl have neglected them and the seeds of error sad and untruth have taken root in the rich soil of their hearts hearm in which we should have sown and cultivated the seeds deeds of virtue purity truth faith falth morality obedience justice paU parence ence hope charity and benevolence in hearts so cultivated there tb re is no room for weeds of discontent untruth un on belief selfishness immorality ibias tice impatience and love a ol 01 vice to creep in let us hold our oar children close to us make them feel that they are nearer and dearer to ui us tuan all else beside our god that we have time always to enjoy or sorrow with them that a part of each day is theirs and bursto which we look forward as the hour hoar of reunion when the plea pleasures suras or disappointments point ments the aspirations successes or failures may maybe be freely talked ab about out and words of cheer or suggestions and criticisms given and taken the influence of such an hour la is never lost but Is carried down the long vista of years and ennobles re fanea and makes nappy the hearts in many homes when the youth or maiden leaves the paternal i and encounters the temp lations of life I 1 the memory ol of the oving loving wor words s 0 of counsel counse or t tenderness n erness spoken in this home hour hy by the dear father and mother the sympathizing brother or sister acts as a powerful safeguard from jan danger ferand and a strong magnet in the line lindof of rectitude and duty giving increased desire and nd strength to resist the vices so temptingly arrayed let us lay the founds f OB ada tion of a broad and general culture by reading and discuss discussing inte with the family the general topics of the daily papers biographies of f eminent men and aad women books of travel history poems scientific mathematical ano bd spiritual truths thus cultivating power ct cl thought and expression while add WL to the general fund of information did somebody say 1 I have no time 11 has one of us more time than another that this plea so often heard beard is made it if we systematize our borki think any one of as can nad find fifteen minutes each day to devote to individual or circle reading if you havi never tried lr jr you do not know how touch much time you hain gain seven sod and one half hours in a mouth of thirty days longer than any of you would care to read at one sit ting besides the effort to keep the line A t thought Is ia most excellent mental dl discipline try it each one of yoland it you digest what you read you will be surprised at the amount of ictor nation mation gained in six month sand amply repaid for the effort the ease and readiness with which the children ex press themselves will both surprise ind gratify you and a taste for information of various kinds is acquired which develops and expands the faculties with which we are endowed by our creator let us my brethren and si aters give the matter of discipline di and culture some attention let us profit by the experience of noted men and women let us learn not only oni y from our books iut from each other president young youna once said to me wherever you wad flod truth in ia science art literature or nature hold fast to it for it is part of the gospel how are we to annl these truths unless we seek how they are truths unless onless we test them how retain and use them without mental discipline and the assistance of the holy ghost in sections seu tons and 31 doctrine and covenants we real 11 whatsoever principles of intelligence we attain unto in this ue lite will rise with us in the resurrection and if a person gains more K knowledge bowled and int ellig nee in this lifo life through 11 his diligence and obedience than another lie will wid have bave so much the advantage in the world to como it is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance then let us strive for and exercise the physical mental social political and spiritual discipline and culture that will enable us to be saved and exalted in the kingdom of god |