The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-10-07


cised over the young proper care. 1t
was not so much question of inidei-
ity with tn N as ignorance. They were
not in possession of the principles of
light, intelligence and truth. His mind
was first lead to reflect on this subject
by observing the great numbers
OF young men who, when called
to 90 on missions. had to
confers that they were unacquainted
with the tenets of the faith. He thought
it unfair and unkind on the part OF
parents to let their sons
GO OUT INTO THE WORLD
in such a condition. When those boys
were called upon to go forth, it required
almost the entire time of al ordinary
mission to fit them for their duties 1t
behooved them as Latter-day Saints to
ccept such measures as would train
their sons and daughters in knowledge
OF the gosT ell Prominent amongG the
institutions organized by the saints for
that purpose were the Sabbath Schools
wuca were now attended by nearly 20 :
0OC children. 1t had been deemed wise
to advise superitendents of those
schools to organize Normal Depart
ments. Some Saints hold very peculiar
views upon tbs subject of agency. They
said that they did not wish to urge the
gospel upon their children in their
youth, and yet they could not allow
them to grow up without being taught
TO be honest, thruthful and virtuous.
Why, then, should they no be instruct
ed in regard to religion? Experience
had shown that if a young man had
attended Sabbath School and the Mu-
tual Improvement, Association, he was
we'll flied to perform a mission,
but il such was not the case
he was utterly unprepaied. II
this was the result of deyoting a few
hours in the week to the study of the
gospel. what would be the result should
he devote six days in the week to its
study 1t this were done, they would
not find young men. and women making
shipwrecks of their lives. In
THE ORDINARY DISTRICT SCHOOLS
teachers were forbidden to give any re-
ligious rstruction-their hands were
tied. Some oithe great thinkers of the
country thought that the free schools
would be the salvation of the people.
In Massachusetts, however. where the
system had bean given full sweep, and
where it had att ined to the highest de.
gree of excellence. statistics showed that
the criminal list hau more Inan doubled
since its adoption. 1t had proved that
educating man only in the sciences
aud literature of the day did not de-
velop his religious nature, but did de-
velop infdelity. Education of that
character did snot develop men of
honesty and virtue. A great many of
the army of tramps which existed in
this country were men who had
been educated in the public
schools of the day, which were
to reform and regenerate the genera
ticn, It bohooYed the Saints to sus-
ain the brethren who were en-
deavoring to establish here school
where the young might learn the
GREAT TRUTHS OF THE Go:PEL
and be fitted and prepared, in carry
ing on the great work; To arrive at
this result, it would be necessary to
bsgln very easy with the children. The
Greeks aud Romans were at one time
far in advance in culture, Of the nations
by whom they. were surrounded, and
yet to day but few sad mementoes
were left of them. These were but
mile posts upon tn. road from which
the Saints might learn. He closed
by bearing his testimony to the etruth
of the work in which the Saints were
engaged.
The choir sang
Great God attend while Zicn Sings;
After which the benediction was pro-
nounced by Elder DAVID Cannon, and
the conference adjourned until 2 pm.