The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-03-07
An ARTICLE ON The NEED OF
RELIGIOUS TRAINING IN CHILDHOOD
BY J. PETERSEN. or SrfITHFIELD. IN THE
IMPROVEMENT ERA.

ion Is. and the influence which II
may have on the life of an individual
shall therefore consider these
phrases of the subject first
In the first place, 1t will not be de.
MED that there are several erroneous
and conflicting views entertained ev-
en- BIZ Latter-day Saints, with re-
spect TO religion and its function In
as something visionary and conse-
gnestly overwhelmingly useless 10
any one in the common everyday af-
fairs of life. To them religious per
son is one who is more or less fan
attic; one who Is visionary, senti-
mental, and usually hypocritical; one
who can not adjust himself to the
ordinary affairs of Industrial and So
sciaI life; he Is out ftune entirely
with the strenuous activities of tee
present day; neither can he appre-
sciste human frailties; he is one who
takes for granted everything which
tradition or authority may affirm, but
sdeIiberatly closes his eyes to the
facts or reason and experience, and
TO the accepted conclusions of sclo ~
ce. Again others think of religion
only as a mass of rites and cerenun-
les, q compliace with which brings
no perceptible benefits to the ind vid.
uai who obeys them. Others again
viii say: Religion may be alright.
tut IL is something that concerns on
yy the world to come and brings bat
little real good to us in this life"
n may be said that there are al
least six accepted, or authoritative,
Sic;inations of religion. They are, as
given in the Standard Dictionary; |.
Religion is a belief binding the spiri
tuaI nature OF man to supernatural
Psing on whom he is conscious that
he is dependent also the practice
that springs out of the recognition
oi such rel. ton, including the per-
Sonal life and experience, the doct'
r.h., the ,ll'ics, and the rites found
ed on It, 2. Any system of faith and
worship. 3. An essential part or
practical test of the spiritual life !.
Spiritual awakening and the conform
iiy of heart ard life to religious be-
Hell 5. A state OF life bound by
mcnastic VOWS. i Conscientious ie.
g0tion in practice.
Most of these statements, If broad
ny interpreted and specifically appli
ed TO the theorf and practice OF the
gospel of Jesus Christ, will he accept
able TO Later-day Saints TO Us, re-
lis,on implies reception OF the
fatLo1nood of God and the biC,hCr
hocd of man, the divinity OF Jesus
Christ and the affiacy of his sacrifice
in bringing redemption to the human
race, the eternity of being, and The
ros sibility of eternal repression. Cur
religion teaches us that to serve our
fellow men is Godlike--that We
should work as well as pray; that
,aure heart and chaste life admit
an ahe divine presence; and that he
essp does not love his fellow man
cannot love God; that pure religion
and lapdefiled before God and the
Father. Is this, to visit the fatherless
and yidow in their affliction, and
hQaep himself unspotted from the
world: 10 put away lying and speak
every man truth with his neighbor";
fhat THE idler shall have no place
slmang us, and that he who fails to
lrEOVide Tor his own is worse than
IN infidel"; that we should regard
ghs right and the feelings of our fell
rev men and he who would take ad-
vantage of his neighbor or refuse to
piay an honest debt is not good
E.atter-day Saint. Our religion teach
as AS loyalty to our homes and our
tamihes. loyalty to our country, to
rhe priesthood, and TO our Maker.
GNasmuch as an explanation of what
HrBgion is also indicates, to some ex
s.ess, the influence which 1t natural
" yeKerts on mankind, the SECOND
phase OF our subject needs not to b'
,elRelt upon so extensively. Let 1t b'
sufficient 10 say that the motive
Lsrne in civilization, the underlying
,aEency in human progress, has beef
that subtle refining, elevating influ
ance which religion gives. Religion
as ALSO a restraining force whicI
helps more than anything else I
20epp une from doing wrong, 1t shal
rp.us the edge of conscience, impel
sJue 10 righteousness, gives confor
and consolation when moments of dis
scuuragement and dependency come
Many Who have been unwilling to r.