Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-12
CONSERVATION OF
HUMAN ENERGIES.
$1,000
Elder Howard briggs Delivers
Thoughtful Discourse at
Tabernacle.
WORTH OF. BOYS AND GIRLS
In Their Amusement They Should be
Surrounded With Proper Influ-
cnccs for Their Retirement.

The conservation OF human energy
physical. mental and morat-:wns the
theme OF an impressive discourse de-
livercI ut the tabernacle yesterday
afternoon by Elder Howard X. briggs.
a strong comparison was drawn
by the speaker as to what IS being
done in conservation OF mnterial things
and what is being left undone In the
far more important subject OF in
dividual and community ethics.
President John Henry Smith, who
presided over the services. briefly re-
ferrcd to his recent trip in attendance
on the TransmississipD congress at
San Antonio. Tex, and in conclusion
strongly endorsed the remarks OF
Elder briggs.
During the service Prof. +. c. Row
don, OF Blackfoot Ida sang In
pleasing manner Sweet Hour OF
the choir were. Come. dearest Lord.
Author of truth. eternal word and
the anthem, Let the Mountains
Shout for joy" Invocation was offered
by Elder Edward T. Ashton and Presi-
dent Richard W. Young pronounced
the bencdiction
Elder briggs spoke in part rs fol-
lows:
ELDER HOWARD r. briggs.
A theme of interest to the Latter
day Saints and to all the world is the
conservation OF souls.
The first pioneers to these parts
found for the most q. desert area. The
great effort put forth from that time
was to overcome the obstacles of arid
ity and to replace the sage green with
oil 80 h.,
golden grain. Streams are harnessed
now to serve in thousand and one
ways not thought of IN the days be-
fore conservation came.
Saving of the material things of life
is very important. but the waste of
life, OF human energy and of time is
something of far more Importance. and
outweighs all the rest.
The doing away of things that curse
communities, chief among which Is
loafing. and to cure this mother of evil
IL a veXed question. Costly is the
throwing away OF God-given hours by
young and old. The material wealth
of the nation is some billions. but the
result OF computations as to the waste
OF human kind in this country is estl-
mated at twice that amount. reckon
ing the producing capacity of each in
habltant. What is of more worth. n
fabulously rich mine, or a boy who may
develop into an Abraham Lincoln?
Utah's best crop is Its boys and
;. girls, and they are endangered by con-
tlitions creeping In to blight and
destroy. Diseases sometimes strike the
human soul more serious in character
than the worst known physical Ills.
The chief concern OF parents should
be to consider well the leisure time of
their children. Prohibition Of certain
things may come. but 1t will not avail
unless substitution follows. Misdircct-
cd energy Is worse than an unguarded
stream. and may run into harmful
channels. The social timo of young
people is too frequently put In charge
of persons whose chief concern is to
mako money at the expense of human
souls. Hundreds of the best have thus
been placed upon tho altar OF sacrifice
needless. careless. sacrifice.
Places where young people are wont
to assemble should be run on high
plane. be they dance, show house or
resort. United effort on the part of
communities will Insure refined places
of amusement. So-called bad boys
and girls are ofttlmes only misguided
and uncontrolled good boys and girls.
| who by timely consideration and
| proper handling mirht have been
rescued from untoward tendencies,