Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-04-29
CHURCH LITERATURE

nHilnE. many newspapers ana IlAAA-
r.nes that enter to a dcuayed taste
and therefore makes ITSELF The voh.cle
of ausaUonilisn. regardless of both
truth and dcceucy. also many novels
written for morcenary purposes. We
find I'm the Improvement IRA for May
splendid article on the same sub
5eet by President Joseph +. smith. and
,,r take Che liberty of copying o. and
recommending &c 10 the thoughtful COM
rdeation of am who may read IT,
President suith says.
"a very Important consideration for
the Latter-day Saints is 90 give thought
10 the reading matter that is introduced
into their homes. There is "a clRss Of
literature which gains admission into
some of the homes of our people which
may be- said 90 be nothing less than
vicious in its character DO is cheap
and sensatonn class which has "a tom
doncy 20 destroy "a desire for reading
that requires thought and cousIdera-
tlou. and develops intellectually This
class of literature may well be banished
nom our BONES. and as 10 is the GUS
tom ln tho spring % clean house 90 make
the surroundings OF the homes sweet
and endurable &c would not be- anlss
% have a house cleaning in regard 10
reading matter Newspapers OF the
cheap and sensational story style have
altogether too many readers, and their
elimination from the reading tables Of
the people would be- thing to be- earn
estly desired our own literature
should have consideration instead. and
from our numerous magazines many
valuable and important truths might
De learned of which at present 1T app
pears that many of the people are is
n0raut We sometimes hear complaints
that we have too much Church litert-
Magazines but it Is a fact that the pa
peers and magazines taken aside lrOm
the church publications are so numer-
Gus that 81 the latter wore fewer IN
number. tho reduction might only ada
t0 the number oc outside publications
subscribed for many OF which are
really useless 20 those who read them.
II is truo that there are many yaiu-
able papers and magazines that are
worth while reading. but these are often
neglected FOR tho sensational class, so
that tons Of cheap and trashy ltera-
ture are yearly introduced into tho
homes Of the people.
"The criticism might we'll be applied
also to books There is altogether too
much novel reading OF that class OF
novels which teaches nothing useful
and only tends 70 the excitement OF the
emotions. Excessive novel reading we
an know Is detrimental 10 tho intellect
ual development OF those who engage
On IL. and the wise and those who seek
advancement might well give more
time TO useful educational works
books that would enlghten the reader
on history. biography religion. ana
other important subjects which an we'll
Informed people are expected 20 UNDER
stand.
MANY Of our young people, and some
older ones. too. are not familiar with
their own religion nor with the beluti-
fm and striking doctrines OF the gospel
with which 10 is SD laden This class
devote more time Co reading useless or
sensational books than they do 90 the
study and contemplation of works ihat
would famiualize them with the pdn-
cIples OF the gospel DO they were better
informed n this lime. aud understood
the saving doctrines and everyday
questions of their religion. more thlu
they do they would not Doe trapped by
false Teachings, false leaders and adyo-
Gates of cults chat arl false They
would nos boo mised as SOME of -hom
are.
can Incident comes to my mind 10
is that of "a lady who bad ror many
yoars belonged to the Church or Jesus
Christ of Iatter-day Saints. and who
was visited boz hen homie uy au ldvoaats
of Christian Science. This alEn.ll. u.
Christian saenee understood her busI-
ness perfectly. ANA Taught the doctrine
of that cult With much HuaNty ana
oancsJnesa Strange to say. tm. good
sister. who bad belonged tn the Church
for many years. exclaimed upon Lelr.
ing of tneIr u9suue ar healing th.t 20
was me worry tHIns aHe bad boon ilok-
lu1 flr flr EolI. And th.a In face oI
che fact that our literature as well
az tne teaching. UF Oh. lIu.I. ur. TuN