Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-05
A PLEA FOR THE SABBATH
And the Preservation Of the Morality
OF Our Youth.
SALT LAKE Cry,

May 9th, 1890.
Editor Deseref Netrs
Morals and religion are 50 closely
allied that shall not undertake to
draw n line Of demarcation between
them. 1t is fair TO concede, how
ever, that individuals may be found
in Christian communities, profess
sors Of religion, who are destitute Of
moral training, and it is n fact that
there are moral people who are with
out religious bias or sentiment. This
is the state Of society among Chris
tian denominations in countries
where the so-called followers of the
lowly Jesus are to be found.
Turn from the frailties in other
people and let our minds rest upon
this favored community-'ta city
sought out, Here we behold the
bloom OF prosperity throughout the
length and breadth Of the land
which the Lord God has given
unto us. Here in these mountains
Of Dessert is my home; this is my
people.
l have great anxiety In relation
to the religious aud moral education
Of our sons and daughters. Never,
in the history OF this people, have
graver responsibilities rested upon
the parents and Priesthood in Zion
than We behold this day. Every
enticement the adversary can use
TO destroy, is brought TO the front
and welded by unscruPulous men
for the destruction Of our children.
The professions Of the Latter-day
Saints are very sweeping in their
nature, reaching far beyond the pre-
tensions ever inside by any other sect
or religious denomination, since the
ancient Apostles fell asleep. All
there is Of beauty, grace, loveliness,
holiness, religion, morality, charity,
purity Of character; all that brings
together, organizes, builds up, i'm
proves, beauties, enables, acknowl-
edges God, incHlcates brotherly love,
makes better fathers and mothers,
and more dutiful children; all that
brings US near 10 the perfection OF
the Fountain Of Light, the Latter
day Saints claim as their own, and
rightly, too, for they have covenant
ed with God by sacrifice. am
living witness that He has accepted
this Offering at their hands, and He
has fulfilled His promises TO this
people in every particular. God
brought US unto these valleys 70
serve Him with undivided hearts.
| Not one soul who enjoys the pres
eRce of the Holy Spirit will doubt
this statement, neither can he or
she doubt the commandment OF the
Great Law-giver-"Remember the
Sabbath day to keep 1t holy"
Sabbath breaking is practiced TO
an alarming extent In this COM
munity, and II is not confined TO any
particular class or denomination,
but is quite general throughout this
city. One careless or weak minded
counselor can set n whole neighbOr-
hood afiame, and counteraet the
faithful labors Of many right minded
parents. This is wrong and should
not exist. among n people 30 well
organized rs the Latter-day Saints
are.
Fathers, mothers, teachers and
guardians-tOyo you is committed the
honor Of being saviors unto this and
succeeding generations; If you now
sow the wind, We shall reap the
whirlwind-an infinite law Of just
compensation.
Sometimes we see and hear strange
things. which occur not far from
our own firesides. Perhaps the fol-
lowing conversation may be appro-
20 TO the situation:
INA, may / 20 to the Park, or
Farm, or to the Lake, with Mr.. -;
Sal and Net, Peg and Nell are go
ing? think you might let me 60
this time. Their parents are willing
for them to visit these places Of
amusement on Sunday. Please, ma,
let me CO." All this and much
more.
Unfortunately the father is absent
and he cannot be consulted by the
half-distracted mother. Gone to the
"pen, :, or left for parts unknown; or
sIccumbed to the claw, and passed
through the purifying fame OF the
judicial furnace, and now, living
alone, comforts his declining years
by cultivatiDg n patriotic love for
the parent government which has
made him \ living monument Of its
stainless character.
| am personally acquainted with
the heads Of families who labor, to
promote in the minds Of their child
rem, n proper reverence for the
Sabbath, but are handicapped by
the injudicious acts Of their other
wise pleasant neighbors. In the
name OF that Being whom We claim
to serve, call upon the Latter-day
Saints to arise in the power Of
union and put down this hydra
headed monster which leads our
innocent youth into the broad road
4 a