Show instructions ON PUBLIC amusements there having ben applications made lor for instructions to be div en con berning dancing parties we think it pr proper to republish the following instructions which first appeared in the DF of 1877 J and aad were again published publish e d january oth 1881 we see ee no besson reason lor for changing our views concerning these instructions they embody our present sentiments i and we should deprecate any departure as a being unworthy the character cha and reputation of consistent latter day saints JOHN taylor Q CANNON of 01 the first presidency of thet the church of jesus christ of latter day saints much praise has lastly been bebin given to our late revered president t for or tile the course coarse he pursued with regard to the amusements of the peo people e pi 91 god it was his aim to ulde guide ana regulate not to suppress the rational enjoyment of the latter day saints and to do so he gave their social parties their picnics their theatrical 41 performances the sanction of vis is cresence sence and the aid of his hip experience ve Ee essence e well understood that thai whilst true religion pre prohibits hibitS ples pleasures that are unlawful bal as also an inordinate degree of attachment to ples pleasures in themselves innocent yet there is not hing in the spirit of the gospel which is opposed to a cheerful enjoyment ot of lif life 0 the council of the apostles is in full accord with these sentiments its members regard it ds a portion of their duties to guide counsel and direct the latter day saints in I 1 the conduct of their social gatherings tod reunions re unions they bel belleve e ve that sip sin is not necessarily the sequence of theatrical performances or dancing parties shot and that there is no inseparable cord which binds together the vices and of mankind from long experience they have proven that the jitter day saints can gather to enjoy themselves without the least thing occurring to hurt or offend the purest spirits that attend or injure the f feelings of 61 the most susceptible iole indeed there is no reason why way the tic spirit of the lord should not be enjoyed dy ed in the song and in the dance in ih their el proper time and place is as i IB a the service or of public worship it at its own appointed flour to insure as much its as possible freedom in our orar social parties from every very influence that is opposed to truo godliness said I 1 purity the ot the apostles at atajate a bate to permit of a limited number of par ties being held beldin in our ward houses house until we can call erect direct other devoted to the tee amusements of t the e people lr these parties the council p place ace under the guidance and supervision of the bishops of the respective ward dardr especially enjoining upon them to preserve the utmost order and sud decorum at all the gither gatherings ings shot and to permit ao 90 disreputable or immoral person to there mingle in m the society of the saints itts it is also the unanimous sense of the council that our parties never be continued after midnight but that we the priesthood encourage the closing of public bublic parties and other social gathering eg at an early hour hoor say at ten or eleven p tn and further that they discountenance and prohibit the getting up of all dal dancing icing for or the tha purpose ot making money gat gathering herink funds bunds or paying off debts as they have learned that when this was doneit fo neit too often of tea happened that the wives and daughters 0 of f the latter day saints were brought in contact with and introduced to very undesirable persons phd desire to make these parties a financial success having got the better ater of the in biting committees good judgment so that they nad had permitted the ibie presence of those whose i reputations and associations 1 ren derad them very undesirable pom com for men and women w who lio were seeking to serve the lord far this reason we request that the llott those to be invited be invariably submit submitted to the presiding authorities in the ward and never naver be deviated deviate cb from without their consent the instructions here given with regard to the ketting Retting I 1 I 1 up of dancing parties for the collection of means are not liot intended to apply to concerts lectures literary entertain parties etc for the benefit of sunday schools improvement associations ciati ons missionaries incidental ward expenses expensed etc the objectionable classes which we wish to ei exclude clude are not so likely to desire to attend gatherings of 6 this chark character tit nor can they exert the same pernicious influence if they th do attend at as they can in the associations of a dancing party the permission belfie hero here given to hold social parties forthe tatter latter day saints in the ward houses it is to be hoped that the stake and ward authorities thor ties ittes will discount discountenance elice balls etc held by disreputable people in other places and that tho those who persist ju in getting up and attel attending iding outside parties where all classes of characters are invited and allowed to commingle be not invited to those held under the purview ot the aiesi P priesthood I 1 where it is intended intend ad that th only ORPY the good and the pure shall associate appod late tn relation to round dances there hasl has been among all ah correct feeling people a strong prejudge against them as they tend though not always intentionally so go to demoralize our eur youth and aid operate prejudicially to those innocent enjoy enjoyments ments which ought to characterize the recreations of the latter day saints we do not wish to be too restrictive JIL in relation to these matters hat but boum recommend there be not more than one or two permitted in any evening eva aing we hope that the kreal presidents dents of stakes soles bishops and all Inn Jug officers wilk be dill diligent geu th in preserving the virtue and purity parity of ou youth and see that the suggestions coli contained tallied la in these Instruct instructions iono be carried out as far as practicable W we also invite the 00 operation cooperation co oo o o 0 o n of the young also oung mens and iun gLadies JL adies mutual tiu and of all good saints an wice anything wrong bit their B bishops in ia the I 1 e of al these desirable objects w JOHN hie av i president of I 1 the e apostles the e was originally published as expressing the views of the council of bf the ho apostles when acting as the presiding quorum of the church chuoc it is now repeated as embody embodying 11 ae the sentI sentiments mentA and instructions true ong on the subjects mentioned of 91 the first presidency its publication for the third time has been rendered expedient by beque requests ato from different carters barters uArt ers pd and to i secure uniformity univ V of 11 rules in all the stakes of zion Z As comments 00 upon the atherly lat herly and valuable counsel it contains we cannot offer anything more suitable imol and to the point than the following which accompanied it t ilithe in the editorial col columns grans of this ahli paper on its second publication jau jan aith ath 1881 I 1 there sitheres can be no misunderstanding of the e spirit and weaning meaning of tile foregoing counsel it Is 18 plain aud and simple and adapted to the saints in all parts parta of the 7 territory errit ory andia and if the instructions and suggestions imparted are carried out the results cannot f fall ail to be beneficial order it is said is heavens heavenia he avena first law 11 certain it is that without order there can be no rational enjoyment and to spear secure order there must be a responsible head in all 11 public organizations societies and assemblies mies submission to proper authority to is essential to the greatest happiness of tle the greatest re at eat number as much in a gathering er 1 a for I 1 amusement is as in national f 0 t 1 I Z or ri local rl govern government nent this ought t to abe be ulla understood by aur our young people as well as their seniors and they should be taught that the object of proper restraint and whole wholesome iome regulations to is not to deprive them of pleasure iessi but to so insure reit it Intha in that tole degree which will be for their highest garod od compatible with ot others re Re Regard gardic for r the tg 1 feelings and des desires ires of our a associates should govern all people young ull and I 1 old especially tn in assemblies s L for general jevell relaxation this is the essence of true politeness 0 and the evid evidence price of true ue civilization wily only the uncultivated ta the ignorant and the ignore the wishes pi of others sad and rudely t try ry to make their individual whims or wants i prevail tail oyer over the expressed wishes of older persons or of the majority the craze for what to is known as dancing prevails re valls as much as an anything from a or disposition Aili to do that w which is discountenanced or forbid des if cotla cotillions cot illions ions were placed under the ban they would soon come into prominence as the one thing needful to enjoyment of orsome some folke the leaders of oi our q people are not singular la in th their I 1 n appo itin to im immoderate waltzing waltzing and kindred kindre cr dances thise these exercises involving the close embrace embi ace ozo and giving qa 1 atte is I 1 19 X mp er and often disgusting actions W cosed by some ot of the best men aad god women in all parts of the civilized world to the pure all things I 1 may be beaure pi pure but we have to deal with people aa they are inn ina mixed assembly and therefore it is necessary that a cheek be placed on this species of da 92 for r reasons that should be jbv US to the reflecting without de to be too strict but with consideration for the wishes of many young the advice was kand and is given that ane que or two round dances only be permitted at each evenings ball our young folks should remember that most moat ol of their older friends take no pleasure in these modern figures but prefer the more sedate old fash boned cotillion or quadrille and should therefore be content with one or two dances allowed lor for their special benefit particularly when they have equal opportunities wath their seniors for participation in the square dances there is as another iother thing that should be mentioned in this connection the manner ip ap which some young persons conduct themselves at dancing parties is simply disgraceful As soon as the word is given to till fill up the floor often before any word is given at al all young men will rush in all directions far for partners art ners and when selected pull them into into place as it if crazy inebriate or engaged in a scramble elderly people ga or r galose those disinclined dis inclined to engage in a struggle in a public ball room and who come for respectable amusements amusement not tor for a disorderly romp are crowded out of tile the dance and mos most t of them prefer staying I 1 at home to mingling with a noisy and rowdy throng it is time that a check should be put upon this rude and riotous behavior the floor managers should stand firm against it and it they do not regulate the proceedings ce so as to ensure that reasonable degree of order that is absolutely necessary necess axy to decency and rational enjoyment joy ment the person in charge of the party agreeable to the fo foregoing regain aul lu iu should interpose and secure propriety and de decorum coram most of our dances too are overcrowded ills IV 1 a great mistake to allow so domany many sets on the floor door that there is not room to move with any freedom nor without colliding either less tickets should be sold or the company should be willing to put pat up with less dancing for the object of a ball is i destroyed by lamming jam milik people together in the manner so common and the poetry of motion is transformed into an ungraceful sort of if lumping jumping up and down within harroff limits cribbed cribbes crib beo bed cabined cabinet and confined reference refer nee is frequently made nowa now a the delightful gatherings in early times tu lu the social dalal flail io in this city there perfect freedom compatible at e yitti with the general ne ai good prevailed while the be f order order and the utmost courtesy governed AIM the company each one trying to enhance the pleasure of others and thus all were blessed dancing dancin is designed asare as a recreation which w alu i 11 improve the deportment of those who engage in it produce grace of motion and alla promote friendship harmony and politeness but when people elbow each other out of the way dispute positions laugh lauga boisterously talk at the top of their voices and fush round like a lot of boys fresh from the restraint of school true t enjoyment is applied refinement t is out of the question and a sense of shame is painfully felt by those present who have regard for the common rules of social intercourse A the prophets who foretold the glories lories of the latter day zion pictured the old folts folks and the youth rejoicing together in the dance and this is how feher it it used to be wor before the new tangled styles captivated the boys and girls they lost loat consideration for their seniors we would II 11 liba to see the fathers and mothers and grandpas g and grandmas grandeas grand mas associating soc socia latIng ting with the ahe young men and maidens at our social parties and we hope that the hints we have th thrown rown out will have the effect to make it possible tor for this mingling together of the saints of all ages in our public recreations that an may uke take pleasure together and that order peace union mid and courtesy may aid with the sweet sounds of merry music and joyful influences fluen ces of the spirit of the lord in makin our dancing parties what they are designed to oe be seasons of genuine pleasure and innocent and rational relaxation |