Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-10-05
SOCIAL DUTIES.

The subject Of our duty to our neigh
bors in social way, Is brought to the
attention OF tho Lattcr-day Saints by
President Joseph r. Smith, through an
editorial In the Improvement Era for
october. The neglect therein referred
to is largely occasloned by the strenu-
Gus life Of the majority OF our people,
particularly IN the larger cities ana
towns Of Utah.
There is so much for every live ciii-
zen 10 do. and so many meetings TO
attend that the masses Of the mem
bers Of the Church have their time so
fully occupied that social entertain
ment is almost out Of the question
SIN. n great many Of them, especially
the women and children, do take occa-
sion to go to parties and on excursions
and 10 various amusements, and por-
ton OF the time thus occupied should
be devoted 10 the purposes set forth In
the Era article
Not ONLY should courteses be extend
ed to newcomers and those who have
mo relatives or intimate friends here,
but to the stranger within our gates
who knows nothing Of our faith, our
lives or our Intentions. The truth
should be- set forth to residents who
are unacQualnted with our principles
ana the Gospel should be declared to
them as occasion permits. There should
be no feeling Of hostility among us TO
people not OF our faith, for tolerance,
peace and good viii to all men make
up an article OF our creed As citizens
Of this grand republic we can dwell to-
goiher IN amlty, concedlng to every In
dlyidual his rights and maintaining the
liberty extended by the Creator and
provided for In the heayen-nspred
Constitution OF our common country
We fully agree with the sentiments
expressed IN the Era editorial. and
therefore copy It here in It's entirety,
commencing It to the attention OF all
our readers:
The improvement associations have
local missionaries set apart by the
Bishops OF the wards. The work OF
these officers Is Of great importance,
and by proper care can be made very
effective In line with this work, and
which should also be considered by our
associations, are the social amenities
due to strangers, and that we owe 10
each other. Not only are our young
people frequently thoughuessly neg.
lectful in these respects but this care
lessness extends 10 the people Of the
ward as a whole including the teach.
ers and ward officers. whose special
duty Il is to look after these things.
IL has become 40 customary to look
ont for oneself. TO be Independent that
the thought Of showing anxiety for 9th
ers. or that any one In our midst could
be IN a dependent mood. seems not or.
ten to arise Ia our minds This has led
10 an apparent GOODNESS and lack Of So
ciablity among as which has caused
Offense to many OF our friends and
been stumbling block TO strangers
even Of our own faith.
II can TO mind that not long ago, a
young lady was desirous OF obtaining a
passage to England, Against much pre-
JUDGE In her native land, she had join
ed the Church embracing the Gosvl
agaist the wishes Of her friends She
had come to Utah. and now after Nv
ing here several months. she felt as II
she were In a foreign land among
strangers. and had concluded. there.
fore, TO return 10 her old home. En-.
curing as to the reason for this dissat
isfacuon, Il was learned that she had