Sociability

SOCIABILITY. BY AN AUSTRALIAN SISTER. [The writer, in giving her name, in a note to the editor, says: "I write and send the inclosed on account of continually attending Sunday school and church meetings for eleven weeks, and not above three people recog- nized the presence of a stranger (myself) in their midst. One of these who did speak, noticed I was a stranger, and out of sympathy for loneliness spoke and ad- mitted having attended this same meetinghouse for fourteen months and not hav- ing formed any acquaintances. I am not doing this in the spirit of fault-finding, but believe that tne only reason for this reluctance at welcoming strangers, is that the youth of Zion don't stay to think, or realize our position." In the Era for October, 1904, Vol. 7, No. 12, President Joseph F. Smith, under the title "Social Duties," treats of this same subject in an editorial which should be read by every Latter-day Saint, once each year. It ought to be read from the pulpit of every meetinghouse as often. Editors]. am a Latter-day Saint lately arrived in Zion from a far off I land. Since my arrival, many thoughts have arisen in my mind that I feel I would like to convey to my brothers and sisters over here. It puzzled me how to do so; then the idea came to me, why not try the Improvement Era, and hence answer a two-fold pur- pose? With its wide circulation, not only will the Saints in Zion read and gain an impression of how a new arrival feels, but the Saints in the world may also be benefited by the thoughts and ex- periences of others. Out in the world, when the gospel in its fulness is brought to our homes, and we are led to see the truthfulness of it, and ac- cept it, we feel that we have indeed been favored with a priceless treasure. We grow to love those that bring this message to our homes, and also our newly found brothers and sisters of the city we live in. The fact of our being Latter-day Saints makes us

890 IMPROVEMENT ERA. conspicuous and an object for slurs, ridicule, etc. , by our old asso- ciates, who turn their backs on us in the majority of cases. This causes us to unite and form strong, loving friendships, in our church branches, a love we hardly knew could be possible between people who, until joining with them, were unknown to us and com- plete strangers. Reader, perhaps you have a brother, or, maybe, a parent in some far off land, called to fill a mission. Wherever he is la- boring, he is greatly loved by the Saints of that place. They feel that they cannot doenough for him in return for the great blessing been brought to their home the which -has — everlasting gospel. This missionary has left home and friends, all that he loved, to enter a strange land, with customs all new to him. He has made a sacrifice for the sake of the gospel, and will meet much unkindness and harsh treatment in the opposing world. The Saints know this, and do everything in their power to make him feel at home, and not let his mind dwell too much on all he has left behind. We who embrace the gospel almost simultaneously feel a desire to gather, not that we hear gathering preached, but it seems to come to one and all, by inspiration. Every effort is put forth to accomplish this purpose. Before we start for Zion, we are warned of existing evils, or failings, in that land, so that we may not come expecting perfection and be disappointed. We also make a sacrifice to come here. We part with our loved ones, home and friends, and come to a land of new customs and ways. Oar parting may be for years or even for a life-time. It is not lim- ited to from two to five years, like that of the missionary, but is indefinite.Many of our people are not in favor of our movement, or of "Mormonism. When we arrive, we feel that it is to be "' amongst brothers and sisters, and we look for a recognition as such. We are reminded of the hynn in the psalmody, "Think not when you gather to Zion," etc., and we do not look for great attention or ente-tainment, but for an occasional word of recogni- tion, or a smile, which costs the giver nothing, and makes the re- ceiver feel welcome and at home. We know that the people in Zion have temporal duties de- volving upon them that take up a great part of their time. In that, we resemble them when at home; we have our livelihoods to

SOCIABILITY. 891 earn, and also the special effort of gettingmeans to come to the gathering place of the Saints. Whenever strange faces are seen at one of our meetings, we step up to them and speak, and in this way they are made to feel welcome and they come again. Inves- tigators in time are eventually numbered among ns. This is a diffi- cult task at first to a nervous or reticent nature, but the love of the gospel easily masters that feeling, our nervousness is overcome in our desire to share our blessings with others, and so the gospel spreads. I would like to draw the attention of my brothers and sisters in Zion to this. If any one enters one of our places of worship, they are either members of our Church, or not. If members, then they are brothers and sisters, and a word or a handshake is appre- ciated. If not members, they will appreciate the same manner of treatment, and feel eager to come ag in, and in continual coming, they become interested, and often are converted. Thus in put- ting aside the formality of waiting for introductions, and by let- ting the spirit of love, emanating from the gospel, take precedence, we may do great missionary work in our own midst, and also make our new arrivals feel as much at home as they did in tl;e meetings they enjoyed in their old home. Many times our brothers and sisters feel a longing for their old home and associations, and sometimes are a little disappointed over here. Often when this It is only feeling is on them, they return to their native land. of God, and a strong will that can detain them. It is a the Spirit newcomer, and we might do a lot to lessen that test, and test to a or handshake. So, broth- make the trial lighter by a word, smile ers and sisters, put forth every effort to be sociable. Salt Lake City, Utah.