Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-02-13

These reports to which we have
listened. made by Brother Ballantyne
and Brother Wright Representing the
Sunday schools and the Mutual Improve
ment Associations OF the Stake,) are
exceedingly interesting, because upon
the success OF these organizations, their
influence, and that which they accom-
plish, depends to very great extent the
future oil this people and OF the Church
often think OF the remarkable results
that have attended the organization OF
the Sunday schools, as we'll as the
Mutual Improvement Associations
What condition we would have
been in had the brethren not been
inspired to organize Sunday schools! Ii
has proved most timely organization,
and has occupied the field to the ex.
clusion. 1t may be said, OF those sectarian
organizations and influences which
would have been brought to bear upon
the Latter day Saints. There was a
Bishop OF the Episcopal Church. who
was the Bishop OF this diocese, visiting
New York, and it came to my knowledge
that in the circle where he was one
evening he stated that Brigham Young
was very shrewd man and very cnpa-
Bile man, but he did not know the influ-
ence OF education; he was not aware OF
how potent education was in forming a
people; and he said there was a most
excellent opportunity in Utah to start
schools. Many of the Young people"
he added. manifest great eagerness
TO acquire knowledge and education.
and If we can raise the funds and
establish schools there, we will do a
great work in converting the Mormons.
1t is no use to attempt to convert the
adults, but by furnishing the children
facilities for receiving education, we can
accomplish quite work there" Act.
ing upon that idea. schools were start.
ed in some places, in Salt Lake City, for
instance. and some OF the children of
the Latter-day Saints attended them
The result was that in every instance
that has come TO my knowledge, the
pupils at those schools imDibed false
ideas concerning religion and became
aliens to the faith oil their parents. 1
do not know that they ever had much
faith, but if they did have they lost it;
and il they did not have it, they never
obtained it, but had olher ideas insiiled
into their minds You can see the re-
suits now in the families OF those who in
their eagerness Tor education were care
less as to the medium through which
education should be obtained. Now the
Catholics have large edifices i'll salt Lake
City; suppose you have one here; and
the Episcopalians and other denomina-
tons have established educational in.
stitutions in the midst of the people, and
teachers have been sent by the different
denominations Tor the purpose of in.
dominating the children OF the Latter.
day Saints with their views But
through the organization Of the Sunday
schools great field was occupied that
was very tempting to people OF this
character, and through this organization
they were discouraged from attempting
10 organize Sunday schools. believe
there have been some attempts made,
but they have not resulted IN anything
that has been very noticeable, and the
field is now well occupied by our own
people; and our schools are improving,
and they are gathering in, as they should
do, all the children. In many places
there are young people appointed to go
and labor with children who do not at
tend the schools, TO induce them to
come TO school, and think myself that
this is an excellent thing to do, We
have many very rude boys in some OF
our settlements, and perhaps rude girls.
II all these could be induced to go to
Sunday school, it would have tendency
10 soften their manners and teach them
proper department and good behavior.
think it is an important duty devolv-
ing upon Sunday school teachers to
teach their chiltren good manners and
10 give them the training which they
may not in every instance receive at
home. Our children need instruction oil
this kind; for in many places there is a
great deal OF neglect upon this point,
and children are allowed to grow up in
manner that is not very creditaDle to
their parents, nor to the continuity. l
am very thankful that there are so many
children in the Sunday schools, and
am thankful also that the Sunday schools
are becoming so efficient. or course,
as the Sunday schools grow, so will the
Mutual Improvement Associations grow;
and l think there is likely TO be more
thorough and efficient organization of
'ue mutual Improvement hSSOCidtlOnS
rom this time forward than there has
been, because some OF our leading
brethren are taking great interest in
these associations, and they feel the
necessity OF adopting methods that shall
be more thorough than those that have
heretofore been in vogue.
My brethren and sisters. think il is
oil the utmost Importance that We should
pay attention to this question OF the
proper training OF children. ] feel deeply
impressed myself with its importance.
hear, as no doubt you all do, OF
families who have been long time in
me Church. and you ask about their
children, and in some Instances 1t is
really painful to learn that the children
are not growing up in the faith OF the
gospel; that the young men and the
= loung women, especially the young wo-
men, marry out OF the Church, and that
me young men grow up without faith
the Gospel. do not know anything
scarcely that heai that gives me great
n pain than to hear this; because the
parents of this Church have made great
'acrihces, in many instances, Tor the
ruth. They love the truth, and they
lave shown their love for the truth by
hat which they have done; and to think