| Show WORDS OF WISDOM the habits and methods the he social economics the industrial drifts the religious theories and assumptions of society are all so BO many topics of con aeration de ration for the observer and the student tu dent not as ae a matter of sentiment alone but because these carry influence and he be is in passive or active to tg the prevailing spirit such an one may note things which to him are not the best which are inconsistent and injurious individuals arlous per perhaps happ but his criticism of individuals possesses limits particularly in this country where each one claims sovereignty and that unrestrained liberty of personality voiced in the vulgar expletives 1 11 I 1 shall do just as I 1 darned please what are you going to do about W it 11 1 etc even should habit degenerate into repulsive exhibition into absolute immorality unreachable by law interference would in at likely be regi resided eted and family life would have to submit toti tot e example of the the profane mar man the idler or the content to create its own safeguards fafe eafe guards and leave leava the neighbor to his own sweet will nor can society at large protect itself save by withdrawing its countenance ig or barring its rate even if in doing so a thousand similar peccadilloes are condoned provided they are secret and do not dot obtrude themselves theme elves on the public gaze society itself changes cha and the standard of today to la suggestive of more restraint than in years ago the ideal man to is not now the one who can drink the most wine nor are the excesses or immoralities of the young man sheltered as an readily as of old under the plea pies that he is engaged in sowing his bis wild oata i while chile he may have thell entre e JI into what are deemed irreproachable circles oi all offenses are considered as under the rosell roselli I if neither criticism by the individual nor by society to is allowable where is in the remedy then for abuses for violation of the decalogue or other positive etive standard of right or r shall hall we look to the public press as to the censor of personal or community misdoing will it stand by the truth and righteousness or to is it deemed guilty of innovation when it rebukes hypocrisy and sin and whips the naked rascal round the the world also alas the press itself is honeycombed honey combed with venal ityl its interests and sub sidles didies favor corruption save where this is exhibited so flagrantly that lack of common t might convey the Imp impression that it wasa partaker pir taker of other mens sins bins no the press to is not immaculate it reflects the best befit and worst features of society it covers up party malfe mance and it claims immunity irom libel when excoriating an opponent by byan an unblushing assumption of interest in truth but a condition la is possible where ot ali these forces can work harmoniously for individual good aud and for the creation of a community ideal both based upon the observant vane e of good cornsi counsel 1 on an appreciation of law on a recognition of authority and of unmistakable interest individually and collectively as suggested by revelation and sustained by ins inspirational pi rational force in the hearts of all believer belleve nw in this aspect of thin things gF whit what to the world would be intrusive criticism here would spring from the thought of interested brotherhood and comment upon the habits habile weaknesses and tendencies of the community c uld grow from jealous love and regard for its moral financial or spiritual espiritu al heal health th for each compone component n t part of the body might beas be as sensitive to conditions as is the physical to an aching tooth a crushed toe or a felon on the finger the press of such a people would of necessity sity be the conservator of every interest diverse though these might be atwould it would be a corrector an educator an adviser its spirit of rebuke would not be misunderstood for it would bethe be the rebuke of a friend and without deceit like the kisses of an enemy Weak weaknesses Lesses failings and even wrongdoing while deprecated and uncovered would be subject to the loving desire for reformation according to an enlarged and intelligent repent ance true society would grow into an unbroken unity and universal re of tolly folly evil or would demonstrate the quality of both seed and soil in iii the production of what the prophet called plants of leno jenow wu Li 11 or there would come the ro revelation on of that assurance from a still higher authority every plant that my heavenly father hath bath not planter planted chall be rooted ul u 1 this is the only legitimate higher criticism because it works for the salvation of humanity for the redemption of man and dd the consummation of a prophetic condition of society called zion where worldly selfishness and pera personal onal advantage shall cut no claure 1 in private or public life but laymen and officials of all grades from understood common interest I 1 shall sa sanctify notify by righteousness and justice notice their position on the earth may it be said that these thoughts come from present stringent conditions and that a rehearsal of present counsel and a portrayal of deviation is un welcome to the people called latter day saints this cannot bt be 1 I JO first rot principles an P P have a flavor about t them hem which is ever enjoyable and if this is enhanced by times of anxiety and difficulty no apologies need be used for their presentation the word of wisdom as originally given to the saints was not by way of constraint or commandment in later times it has been reviewed authoritatively as a commandment which very many honor particularly the young but the consumption of tois lea is yet great in utah and it we allow that one third of this importation can be credited to those not in the te church careful investigation shows that its members use about one hundred and seventy five thou thousand pounds per annum at a cost in round numbers of over forty thousand doll doharr arp while the consumption of coffee on the same average reach a three hundred and twenty five thousand pounds pound sat at a coet cod of forty five thousand dollars dollare lucal expenses fur for tobacco plug cut and cigarettes cigarette amounts to over beigh eighty ty five thousand dollars or combining these three articles the latter day saints of utah spend no lees leas than one hundred and seventy thousand doll dollare arp or by adding the country north of salt lake city the aggregate is not far from a quarter of a million dollars annually for three articles deemed non essen bial injurious and forbidden by their religion if we were called upon to pay SIM an annual tax of this thie magnitude the spirit of rebellion would assert itself in unmeasured terms but inasmuch as we tax ourselves we do so complacently and with excuses and apolo apologists apologias gits which only testify to the fact that we are conscious olour of our weakness and andul genoe gence at the behest of fashion or custom or habit we cannot blame the importer or the merchant both y bid to the law of demand and supply and many of the latter w who bo sell these arti cles wish in all good conscience that less lem and less was sold they know that the means spent for these would not be hoarded boarded but something more inore beneficial would come to the families of this favored territory elow bow would a years abati ence frova from these articles do for israel if it were spontaneous and universal for twelve short mouths months how bow many debts might be paid and obligations wiped away would the public health suffer would morality virtue faith religion be come of less value or be less lees active nay would not the community be improved would not the example of sacrifice na crince have its weight and if a aars trial proved its value might not this become a permanent thing in the midst of a really progressive people then if the use of liquor and beer beair could be dispensed with by members of the church for some use them is it not possible that there would be more strength in other directions self conquest is the mightiest of all vio vie doriee and while none would desire to have life shorn of any of its comforts even if only traditional ones is not dot compensation po sible elble from increase increased d enjoyment of the legitimate and go rood od and does not this constitute the theessen essen bial spirit of words of wisdom given by the fathers who have lallen asleep and by their successors in this peculiar nay this extra thought ful time |
