Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-16
A TIMELY TALK.

In the latest issue of the Improves
ment Era, the editor, President Joseph
f. Smith has the following timely talk
with young people on "The Spirit OF
Religion" directing special notice TO
the duty OF attending religious meet
ings. II IL worthy the attention of Lat
terday Saints Of all ages and condi-
tons!
"You have noticed how indifferent
some young men are about attending
meetings. You have observed, too, how
careless about the same matter some
of the middle-aged are; and last you
have experienced personal apathy on
this subject that has often convinced
you that 1t was better TO so TO the
meadows or the woods than to endure
two hours of dry church services as
they seem to you.
There are reasons for this apathetlc
feeling about attending meetings. The
first cause is, perhaps, a breakdown
OF the traditional obligation to attend,
which earlier in the Church was right
ly set down and considered as duty.
In fact, not many years ago, member
who failed TO attend his meetings was
often severely criticised by his teach.
ers and Bishop and even considered TO
be backslder. This feeling, which is
true one and which 1t were well could
be perpetuated among the Saints, does
not now as strongly exist, but rather
In its stead are creeping in the thoughts
and feelings that If certain other duties
are performed, one may well stay away
from religious services without losing
caste with the Church or It's officers
or course, this means that those who
go to meeting are those who want to
go, and they are there In spite of emp
tatlons and influences to go elsewhere,
"A second cause closely connected
with the first mentioned, is the great
increase In the number an variety OF
Sunday amusements; the lake the cam
yons, the music halls, country buggy
or carriage drives and visits. in the
summer; and Ia winter, parties, sooials,
entertainments, which, while perhaps
not held on Sunday amorg as, are yet
n source Of detractlon from church be-
cause of the time aud pleasure which
they occupy and provide. In this con-
neetion, you have noticed how time for
diversion and amusement can always
be found by people who can find no
time for religious worship. | have be-
fore mentioned in these pages that
men and women find sufficient time for
card playing in which valuable days
are spent in fostering serious evll..-
an evil in the sight OF God, and with
which he is greatly tlsplelscd, l. is
evil for one reason becaus, Young peo-
pie who indulge In IT win likely be led
to places where card playing cul,
inmates lin the saloon and gambling
hall. We find time for what we love
and are interested IN, which is an cN-
PLANTATION of the whole matter, and 80
when people do not attend religious
NNiNlNto VIC may NhNliNlAlN AA4tNlAfle
they are not interested.
"rhe remedy then, Is to become inter-
ested Il is a duty to become INTEREST,"
ed. Why? Because It is command
ment of God The Saints arcicntly on
this continent were commanded: pray
In your families unto the Father. nj
ways In my name, that your wives ana
your children may be blessed, And be-
hold, ye snuil meet together Oft, and
We shall not forbid any m6E from COM
Ing unto you when ye shall meet TO-
gether, but suffer them that they may
come unto you, and forbid lhom not
and whatsoever breaketh this
commandment, (to meet together ofD
suffereth himself to be Ted into temp
tatio1.'
1T is further commanded to the Saints
in GU. Gay IT is expcdient that the
Church meet together often 10 partake
Of oreal and wine In remembrance Of
the Lord le2us" (noc.,na ana Cove
nants 2O 75)
1T is pleasure, too to become inter-
ssted, for experience teaches that no
Joy can equal that which comes from a
possession of the Spirit OF the Lord.
This can not be retained outside Of
frequent association with the Saint
IN their places Of worship, In fact Il
Is plainly stated In the quotation from
the Book OF Mormon, that they who
tail to meet together often suffer them
selves 80 be led into temptation"
Some assign as a reason for not be-
ing interested In meetings that what IA
said and done is not attractive, II does
lot appeal to them. The unprepared
Iemon is dry and the music is not al
Ways the best II, however, we were to
inalyze this reason, the fault could be
raced to the unnterested person HIM
ielf, who has perhaps had the spirit
II worship swallowed up In the spirit
# pleasure which has tempted him.
sgaln, he may have come to meeting
With the sole idea OF being entertained,
~ completely has he been led into