The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-05-08

IN the scope or coos kingdom. AND
we are told that, if we SEEK first the
kingdom, all else shall be added. It i.
impossible that it should be otherwise
for that kingdom will take in all the
| blessings OF earth as well as of heaven.
Some people imagine that religion,
the worship of God, necessitates total
abstinence from all the happiness and
pleasures of this life. I do not SC
| regard 1T. | believe in recreation, in
innocent amusement. l bel eve the min
needs relaxation, that the body needs
! rest. Religion is not treadmill, nor q
dungeon. This is false, vain and an
earthly view of religion. God sends
the sunlight as well as the clouds; He
is pleased when His children are happy,
when they can smile. when they engage
in innocent amusements. But this
liberty to enjoy in purity and inno-
cence the good things of earth must not
be construed as license to wallow In
SIN and lniquity. 1t must not be car
ried to excess. Excuses are ALWAYS
dangerous. We may have too much
sunlight at times; we may drink too
much pure water; we may max e
which God has given to man;
and this is usually done by running to
excess. Take, for instance, the man or
woman who tuinKs of nothing bat
pleasure, who passes all the time in
laughing and dancing, listening to
comic opera. in feasting and in folly.
WHAT'S the condition of mind of such
person. 1t is a vacuum, so far as
sense and reason are concerned. They
live in the air. Thew fit like butter
flies from flower to flower, with no OBJ
ject in life but to display the beauty
of their gilded wings. to be gszsd at
and admired, having jolly good time
and wasting their lives, this precious
gift of God, for which they must rem
der an account unto the Great Judge
who gave to all men their stewardships.
The condition in which we find such a
person is warning enough that excess
of pleasure IS hnrtful and sinful. But
if we partake of these things in inno-
cence, in purity, in moderation, then
they are bles ings. A good laugh, a
smile, or heart full of merriment
is blessing. These things are the
seasoning of life's feast; the salt and
pepper, so to speak; but we requi' e
nutritious food along with them. VINO
would want a dinner of pepper and
salt? 1t would b. just as sensible as
for person to pass through this life
with no aim but pleasure, living only
for the things of this world. Rstribu-
tic n comes right here for those who
follow such a course. Their very
thoughts are feeble and unsound. But
those who act with wisdom and mod T.
alton, taking the blessings of God from
every source and wisely using them,
just as the honey bee sucks from every
Hover some sweetness. to store away
for future use; they are the ones who
truly enjoy life and who are preparing
for salvation here and hereafter.
How many Latter-day Saints are
there who, instead of being here to-
day, ale spinning through these streets
behind fast horses, needless of
the fact that this is Gods
day. and that this is the house of
the Lord, house of worship. Here are
the emblems of the broken body and
the shed blood of the Redeemer OF the
world, of Him who died that all men
might live. He rode not in chariots,
He sought not His own pleasure, but
dotted His very crown and laid aside
his sceptre, to play the part of poor
way-faring man, "a man of SORROWS
acquainted with grief" but also
acquainted with the principles of eternal
life and happiness. Here we come
together, we break the bread and bless
it; we pour the water and bless it; and
as often as we do this, we remember
Him who died for the world, and He
says: IF we do remember me, We shall
have my spirit to be with you" Go
and talk to those who absent them
selves from these meetings, not full
filling this sacred duty. You will find
that there is nc life in them. They are
dying, starving spiritually, preparing
like dead leaves in autumn to fall from
the trees and moulder into oblivion.
Bat they who partake of these
sacred emblems are filed with
spiritual life. There are Latter-day
Saints who no longer regard it
as duty to come to this house
on the Sabbath; sons and daugh-
ters of those who have borne the
burden and heat of the day, honored
men and women of God. who have sac
rticed, Suffered, toiled, and passed
through all manner of tribulatiol that
they might bring their children to the
knowledge of the truth. And now these
very children have actually forgotten
that it is duty to go to meeting and
for themselves. They are more dead
than the world. It is only question of
time. very little time. when they will
be severed from the tree by the Careful
gardener, who will pruue it and trim it,
cutting Oft the dead branches and spar
ing only those which are slIve.
There are Latter -da- Sa nts who Go
not believe that it is the duty of their
to obey laws that they them
selves have obeyed. They have exalted
and saved themselves-thty think-but
their children may be damned. for all
they care. That is the philosophy of it.
But they will find that what it takes to
save one soul, it will take to save
another. What exalts man or woman
in one age, will be necessary to exalt
men and women in any age.
Brethren and sisters. our mission is
to be an example to the world; but if
we are not careful, the world will be an
unto as; and the kingdom of
God will be turned upside down. In
some things the world can set US an
example to-day; and We are chosen as
a light unto the Gentiles. as the salt OF
the earth, as a city set upon a hill
which cannot be hid. Great is the
degradation and downfall of Latter