CHAPTER XIV



                           TEMPERANCE; THE SABBATH



	MAN SHOULD BE MASTER OF HIS APPETITES. How humiliating it must be to a

thoughtful man to feel that he is a slave to his appetites, or to an

over-weening and pernicious habit, desire or passion! We believe in strict

temperance. We believe in abstinence from all injurious practices, and from

the use of all hurtful things. Poison, in the judgment of the physician, may

be beneficial, under some conditions in life, as a momentary relief; but

poison, under any circumstance, should only be used as a temporary expedient,

necessary, perhaps, in our best judgment, for the time being, for the instant

-- for sudden and certain desired relief -- but the continued use of that

poison will fasten its fangs upon us, so to speak, in such a way that by and

by we will find that we are overpowered by it, and we become slaves of the

pernicious habit that becomes a tyrannical master over us. -- Apr. C. R.,

1908, p. 4.



	MODERATION. We may make evil of all amusements, but the Saints should not

be unwise, but rather understand what the will of the Lord is, and practice

moderation in all things. They should avoid excesses and cease from sin,

putting far from them "the lusts of men;" and in their amusements and pastimes

adopt a course that looks to the spirit as well as the letter, the intention

and not the act alone, the whole and not the part, which is the meaning of

moderation. In this way their conduct will be reasonable and becoming, and

they shall find no trouble in understanding the will of the Lord.



	Let me exhort the young people particularly, and the Saints generally, to

weigh well the value of moderation in all their actions and amusements.

Remember, too, that excessive feasting is not good; neither is excessive

labor, but idleness and waste of precious time is infinitely worse. "Let your

moderation be known to all men." -- Improvement Era, Vol. 6, p. 857, Sept.,

1903.



	TEMPERANCE. We endorse any movement looking to temperance, looking to

virtue, tending to purity of life and to faith in God and obedience to his

laws; and we are against evil of every description; and we are, in our faith

and prayers, against evil-doers -- not that we would pray for evil to come

upon evil-doers, but that evil-doers might see the folly of their ways and the

wickedness of their acts and repent of them and turn away from them. -- Oct.

C. R., 1908, p. 8.



	HOW TO TEACH TEMPERANCE. The best way to teach temperance is to keep the

Word of Wisdom; and the next best is to assist others to keep it, by removing

artificial temptations from their lives. Such temptation is the saloon, and it

is time that the sentiment in the communities where the members of the Church

reside should be declared against this soul-destroying evil. -- Juvenile

Instructor, Vol. 46, p. 333, June, 1911.



	USE OF TOBACCO AND STRONG DRINKS. The use of tobacco in its various forms

and of strong drinks to some extent is also to be lamented and deplored,

especially among the youth, and this evil should be stamped out. The people of

God should set their faces like flint against these practices, and they should

see to it that their children are taught better, and that a better example is

set before them by their parents, in order that the children may grow up

without sin in these things. -- Oct. C. R., 1901, p. 2.



	DO NOT SMOKE. Teach your children not to smoke; persuade them not to do

it. Watch and look after them, and try to teach them better, and to be

courteous and kind. -- Apr. C. R., 1905, p. 86.



	THE SALOON. No member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

can afford to do himself the dishonor, or bring upon himself the disgrace, of

crossing the threshold of a liquor saloon or a gambling hell, or of any house

of ill-fame of whatever name or nature it may be. No Latter-day Saint, no

member of the Church, can afford it, for it is humiliating to him, it is

disgraceful in him to do it, and God will judge him according to his works. --

Oct. C. R., 1908, p. 7.



	If, I say, the people observe the principles of this revelation (Doctrine

and Covenants 89), there could not exist in their midst that most obnoxious

institution known as a saloon; it can not exist where only Latter-day Saints

dwell. -- Oct. C. R., 1908, p. 6.



	DEFEAT THE LIQUOR INTERESTS. The liquor interests -- the enemies of the

race -- are again making keen efforts to restore the former low-down

conditions. In some places, we understand, enough petitioners have already

been obtained and the names filed with the commissioners requesting an

election this June. With all good people we join in hoping that these efforts

may utterly fail to restore the saloon. This should be the desire of all

Latter-day Saints, and their prayers should be supported by their works and

votes. In these elections the wives, mothers and sisters have their golden

opportunity with fathers and brothers to arise and utterly crush the cursed

traffic in drink for which so many have suffered in sweat, and pain, and

tears. -- Improvement Era, Vol. 16, 1912-13, p. 824.



	VITALITY AND PATENT MEDICINES. Instead of flocking out to hear

smooth-tongued impostors people should leave them severely alone. Instead of

dosing themselves with patent medicines, they should learn to keep their

bodies healthy by right living (see Doctrine and Covenants, Sec 89), by

inhaling pure air, taking plenty of exercise, and bathing not only often in

fresh water, but also in the sunshine with which our merciful Father has so

abundantly provided us. If there are cases of sickness, as there will be

notwithstanding any precaution we may take, which common sense and good

nursing, or simple home remedies do not suffice to cure, let us follow the

advice of the Scriptures (James 5:14-16), but if we do not believe in the

elders, or in the prayer of faith saving the sick, let a reputable and

faithful physician be consulted. By all means, let the quack, the traveling

fakir, the cure-all nostrum, and the indiscriminate dosing with patent

medicine, be abolished like so much trash.



	The young man who would cope with the world, who would be full of vigor,

and fresh for the battle of life, will find his strength in living according

to the word of the Lord; for the promise is that all "who remember to keep and

do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive

health in their navel, and marrow to their bones, and shall find wisdom and

great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be

weary, and shall walk and not faint; and I, the Lord, give unto them a

promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of

Israel, and not slay them." -- Improvement Era, Vol. 5, June, 1902, p. 624.



	STAMP OUT PROFANITY AND VULGARITY. We should stamp out profanity, and

vulgarity, and everything of that character that exists among us; for all such

things are incompatible with the gospel and inconsistent with the people of

God. -- Oct. C. R., 1901, p. 2.



	SATURDAY'S WORK. A good modern eighth commandment might read something

like this:  Do not so overwork and fret on Saturday as to deprive the Sabbath

of the devotions and worship that belong to it as a day of rest.



	In the home, Saturday is the day set apart for house cleaning, for extra

cooking, for mending and all sorts of repairs that the Sabbath is thought to

require. In business, Saturday is a day for picking up all lose ends, for

closing up all the unfinished details of a week's work.



	The consequences of our modern treatment of the last day of the week are

too often manifested in an indolence and supine indifference that make our

feelings and a total lack of energy almost incompatible with the spirit of

worship. No worn-out man or woman, by the excessive toil of an early Saturday

morning and a late Saturday night, can properly worship God in spirit and in

truth. -- Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 44, July, 1909, p. 295.



	PURPOSE OF THE SABBATH. The Sabbath is a day of rest and of worship,

designated and set apart by special commandment of the Lord to the Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we should honor and keep it holy. We

should also teach our children this principle. -- Oct. C. R., 1901, pp. 1, 2.



	THE MEANING OF SUNDAY. True, Sunday is a day of rest, a change from the

ordinary occupations of the week, but it is more than that. It is a day of

worship, a day in which the spiritual life of man may be enriched. A day of

indolence, a day of physical recuperation is too often a very different thing

from the God-ordained day of rest. Physical exhaustion and indolence are

incompatible with a spirit of worship. A proper observance of the duties and

devotions of the Sabbath day will, by its change and its spiritual life, give

the best rest that men can enjoy on the Sabbath day.



	Saturday evening may be wisely set apart as a time for thoughtful

conversation or helpful reading as an introduction to the Sabbath day. --

Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 44, July, 1909, p. 297.



	WHAT SHALL WE DO ON THE SABBATH DAY? My belief is that it is the duty of

Latter-day Saints to honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy, just as the Lord

has commanded us to do. Go to the house of prayer. Listen to instructions.

Bear your testimony to the truth. Drink at the fountain of knowledge and of

instruction, as it may be opened for us from those who are inspired to give us

instruction. When we go home, get the family together. Let us sing a few

songs. Let us read a chapter or two in the Bible, or in the Book of Mormon, or

in the book of Doctrine and Covenants. Let us discuss the principles of the

gospel which pertain to advancement in the school of divine knowledge, and in

this way occupy one day in seven. I think it would be profitable for us to do

this. -- M. I. A. Conference, June 11, 1916, Young Woman's Journal, Vol. 27,

pp. 455-460.



	NECESSITY OF SUNDAY WORSHIP. It is imperatively necessary, at all times,

and especially so when our associations do not afford us the moral and

spiritual support which we require for our advancement, that we go to the

house of the Lord to worship and mingle with the Saints, that their moral and

spiritual influence may help to correct our false impressions and restore us

to that life which the duties and obligations or our conscience and true

religion impose upon us.



	"Good times" are often dangerous times, and social fraternity, if not of

the right character, will prove more harmful than helpful. Let us, therefore,

in the midst of our worldly callings and associations, not forget that

paramount duty which we owe to ourselves and to our God. -- Juvenile

Instructor, Vol. 47, March, 1912, p. 145.



	BE WISE IN ALL YOU DO. Leave these poisonous and injurious things alone;

live within your means; get out of debt; and keep out of debt; do not run

faster than you can go safely; be careful and cautious in what you do; advise

with those who have wisdom and experience, before you leap, lest you leap into

the dark; and so guard yourselves from possible evil and disadvantage, that

the Lord can pour out the blessings of heaven upon you, yes, "open the windows

of heaven" and pour out upon you blessings that you shall scarcely have room

to contain them. -- Apr. C. R., 1910, pp. 6, 7.



	THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF FASTING. The law to the Latter-day Saints, as

understood by the authorities of the Church, is that food and drink are not to

be partaken of for twenty-four hours, "from even to even," and that the Saints

are to refrain from all bodily gratification and indulgences. Fast day being

on the Sabbath, it follows, of course, that all labor is to be abstained from.

In addition, the leading and principal object of the institution of the fast

among the Latter-day Saints was that the poor might be provided with food and

other necessities. It is, therefore, incumbent upon every Latter-day Saint to

give to his bishop, on fast day, the food that he or his family would consume

for the day, that it may be given to the poor for their benefit and blessing;

or, in lieu of the food, that its equivalent amount, or, if the person is

wealthy, a liberal donation, in money, be so reserved and dedicated to the

poor.



	Now, while the law requires the Saints in all the world to fast from

"even to even" and to abstain both from food and drink, it can easily be seen

from the Scriptures, and especially from the words of Jesus, that it is more

important to obtain the true spirit of love for God and man, "purity of heart

and simplicity of intention," than it is to carry out the cold letter of the

law. The Lord has instituted the fast on a reasonable and intelligent basis,

and none of his works are vain or unwise. His law is perfect in this as in

other things. Hence, those who can are required to comply thereto; it is a

duty from which they cannot escape; but let it be remembered that the

observance of the fast day by abstaining twenty-four hours from food and drink

is not an absolute rule, it is no iron-clad law to us, but it is left with the

people as a matter of conscience, to exercise wisdom and discretion. Many are

subject to weakness, others are delicate in health, and others have nursing

babies; of such it should not be required to fast. Neither should parents

compel their little children to fast. I have known children to cry for

something to eat on fast day. In such cases, going without food will do them

no good. Instead, they dread the day to come, and in place of hailing it,

dislike it; while the compulsion engenders a spirit of rebellion in them,

rather than a love for the Lord and their fellows. Better teach them the

principle, and let them observe it when they are old enough to choose

intelligently, than to so compel them.



	But those should fast who can, and all classes among us should be taught

to save the meals which they would eat, or their equivalent, for the poor.

None are exempt from this; it is required of the Saints, old and young, in

every part of the Church. It is no excuse that in some places there are no

poor. In such cases the fast donation should be forwarded to the proper

authorities for transmission to such stakes of Zion as may stand in need.



	So shall we gain favor in the sight of God, and learn the acceptable fast

before him. -- Improvement Era, Vol. 6, December, 1903, p. 146.



	KEEPING THE SABBATH HOLY. To observe the Sabbath day properly is the

plain duty of every Latter-day Saint -- and that includes the young men and

young women and the boys and girls. It may seem strange that it should be

necessary to repeat this often-asserted fact. But there appear to be some

people, and sometimes whole communities, who neglect this duty, and therefore

stand in need of this admonition.



	What are we required to do on the Sabbath day? The revelations of the

Lord to the Prophet Joseph are very plain on this subject, and these should

govern us, for they are in strict harmony with the teachings of the Savior.

Here are some of the simple requirements:



	The Sabbath is appointed unto you to rest from your labors.



	The Sabbath is a special day for you to worship, to pray, and to show

zeal and ardor in your religious faith and duty -- to pay devotions to the

Most High.



	The Sabbath is a day when you are required to offer your time and

attention in worship of the Lord, whether in meeting, in the home, or wherever

you may be -- that is the thought that should occupy your mind.



	The Sabbath day is a day when, with your brethren and sisters, you should

attend the meetings of the Saints, prepared to partake of the sacrament of the

Lord's supper; having first confessed your sins before the Lord and your

brethren and sisters, and forgiven your fellows as you expect the Lord to

forgive you.



	On the Sabbath day you are to do no other thing than to prepare your food

with singleness of heart, that your fasting may be perfect, and your joy may

be full. This is what the Lord calls fasting and prayer.



	The reason for this required course upon the Sabbath day is also plainly

stated in the revelations. It is that one may more fully keep himself

unspotted from the world; and to this end, also, the Saints are required to go

to the house of prayer and offer up their sacraments on the Sabbath day.



	Now, what is the promise to the Saints who observe the Sabbath? The Lord

declares that inasmuch as they do this with cheerful hearts and countenances,

the fulness of the earth is theirs: "the beasts of the field and the fowls of

the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth.

Yea, and the herb, and the good things which cometh of the earth, whether for

food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for

gardens, or for vineyards." (Doctrine and Covenants 59.)



	These are all made for the benefit and use of man to please the eye and

to gladden the heart, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. All are

promised to those who keep the commandments, and among the commandments is

this important one, to observe properly the Sabbath day.



	The Lord is not pleased with people who know these things and do them

not.



	Men are not resting from their labors when they plow, and plant and haul

and dig. They are not resting when they linger around the home all day on

Sunday, doing odd jobs that they have been too busy to do on other days.



	Men are not showing zeal and ardor in their religious faith and duty when

they hustle off early Sunday morning on the cars, in teams, in automobiles, to

the canyons, the resorts, and to visit friends or places of amusement with

their wives and children. They are not paying their devotions in this way to

the Most High.



	Not in seeking pleasure and recreation do they offer their time and

attention in the worship of the Lord; nor can they thus rejoice in the spirit

of forgiveness and worship that comes with partaking of the holy sacrament.



	Boys and young men are not fasting with singleness of heart that their

joy may be full when they spend the Sabbath day loafing around the village

ice-cream stand or restaurant, playing games, or in buggy riding, fishing,

shooting, or engaged in physical sports, excursions and outings. Such is not

the course that will keep them unspotted from the world, but rather one that

will deprive them of the rich promises of the Lord, giving them sorrow instead

of joy, and unrest and anxiety instead of the peace that comes with works of

righteousness.



	Let us play and take recreation to our hearts' content during other days,

but on the Sabbath let us rest, worship, go to the house of prayer, partake of

the sacrament, eat our food with singleness of heart, and pay our devotions to

God, that the fulness of the earth may be ours, and that we may have peace in

this world and eternal life in the world to come.



	"But," says one, "in our settlement we have no other day for amusement

and sports, excursions and outings, ball games and races."



	Then demand one.



	Is it possible that parents, in the face of the promises of the Lord will

deny a day in the week when their children may have recreation; and so force

them to spend the Sabbath in sports!



	One prominent man, in one of the northern stakes, where ball games and

other sports are said to be the rule on Sunday, asked what could be done to

remedy the evil. He was told to try a half holiday on one of the week days.



	"Then," he replied, "we can have no change nor remedy. Here are hundreds

of acres of hay and ripening fields crying for workmen, and we cannot spare

our boys for play."



	The best reply to such an argument is the question: "Which is best -- to

let the hay go to ruin, or the boy?" Let the hay go; save the boy. He is worth

more than all your material possessions. Save him in the spirit of the gospel

-- protect him from Sabbath breaking -- by offering a little temporal

sacrifice, and the Lord will keep his promise to you. Get together in your

ward, unitedly select a day for play and recreation; and like faithful Saints

demand that the Sabbath day, as far as you and yours are concerned, shall be

devoted to the Lord our God. -- Improvement Era, Vol. 13, 1909-10, pp.

842-844.



	DO NOT ROB THE SABBATH DAY. It is incumbent on members of the Church to

so plan their work that there shall be no excuse for robbing the Lord's day of

its sanctity. To this end let the boys and girls have a half holiday during

the week, which may be profitably used for recreations, leaving the Sabbath

for spiritual culture and worship. It is equally obligatory that we so plan

our amusements that these shall not interfere with our worship. Let therefore

some other night than Saturday be provided for the purpose. The Lord has

commanded his people to observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy, and on that

day to go to the house of prayer and offer up their sacraments in

righteousness with willing hearts and penitent spirits. -- Improvement Era,

Vol. 12, 1909, p. 315.



	MAN MUST BE MASTER OF HIMSELF. No man is safe unless he is master of

himself; and there is no tyrant more merciless or more to be dreaded than an

uncontrollable appetite or passion. We will find that if we give way to the

groveling appetites of the flesh and follow them up, that the end will be

invariably bitter, injurious and sorrowful, both to the individual and

society. It is hurtful in example as well as in its individual effects;

dangerous and hurtful to the unwary; while the denial of these appetites --

the crucifixion of the flesh, so to speak -- and an aspiration for something

noble; whenever possible, doing good to our fellow creatures, hoping for the

future, laying up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust cannot corrupt, and

where thieves cannot break through and steal -- all these things will bring

everlasting happiness; happiness for this world and the world to come.



	If there is no pleasure in the world except that which we experience in

the gratification of our physical desires -- eating, drinking, gay

associations, and the pleasures of the world -- then the enjoyments of the

world are bubbles, there is nothing in them, there is no lasting benefit or

happiness to be derived from them. -- Deseret Weekly News, Vol. 33, 1884, p.

130.