Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1904-11-18
AS to Temple Work.
Cadar City. Utah, Noy,1 7 1ool

The interest In the work for the
dead that has to be performed in the
temples, seems of late years to be
tagging for some reason. Possibly
the newness is wearing off and people
are getting tired; or, what is more
likely, the rising generation have
not SO much faith as their parents
have had.
1t is 81 years since the st. George
temple, the first one in Utah. was
dedicated, and during that time many
of tho old time saints who came to
Utah for the love Of the gospel have
gone the way Of all the earth
In many instances their children
have not developed the same degree
Of faith as their parents possessed,
and have consequently not been so
eager to work along gospel lines.
The desire for gain, on the other
hand, Is more marked among the pre-
sent generation than IL was among the
pioneers, who had been Obliged by
mob violence to learn the lesson Of
sacrifice for conscience sake.
That which Is easily obtained is not
generally so highly appreciated as
that which costs us much effort.
When the people had to give literally
Of their time and means to build tenn
pies, they appreciated them more and
valued them higher than people do
who have them built ready to their
hands. All these causes undoubted
ly contribute to the feeling of apathy
and neglect that characterizes the
present generation in regard to work
ing in the temple for the salvation of
the dead.
But whatever may be the cause, the
fact that suct condition exists il
undeniable, gnd realizing this, tn,
Church leaders have found it neces
sary TO make what was formerly 9
privilege, duty, and call men aud
women to work In the temples fol
the salvation of their dead; investin,
the call with all the binding force o
a call to preach The gospel for thu
salvation Of the living. A numbe
of rsople from Cedar City have re
ceived a W1Eogftnis nature, and |
remains t,be seen how far they viii
be able ia respond. This call, un
like the Missionary call to work 70
the salvatim of the living, requires
the services Of 10th the husband an,
tho wife, and 1t is this feature of tn
work that will in many cases rende
it peculiarly difficult of performance
as the mother is often more closel
tied at home than the father. Tn eli
is no set time, however, for the wor
to continue; or at least, the min
imum-one week-is very short, an
it is to be hoped that most of us wi
be able to spare mother at least thu
long.
No principle of the gospel of jest
Christ of Latter-day Saints is mo
important than that which pertains
the salvation Of the dead, and perhal
nothing in the plan of salvation Civ
greater proof of its supriority ov
the man made systems of model
Christianity than this -reachil
and God-like principle, witho
which the gospel would, indeed, a
pear unjust. That the dead shou
not have salvation because they d
OF live law that they never hear
is ridiculously unjust; and to relic
them of all the trials incident to
observance Of the gospel law, a
save them without law, would
equally unfair. But to preach I
gospel to them and admit them il
the Church as the living are adm
ted, requiring them to exercise fat
I to repent and to enter in at the do
as the living do az far as their sit'
tion will permit, seems to be the v,
/ essence of reason and common sen
, JOSEPH THOMAS.