--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Smith, Joseph F. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 12 number: 12 published: 1909-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph F. Smith, "Editor’s Table—Social Conduct," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 12 (October 1909): 990–992.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12012unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera12012unse start_page: 990 end_page: 992 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12012unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Editor’s Table—Social Conduct EDITOR'S TABLE. SOCIAL CONDUCT. A correspondent of the Era thinks that "among the needs of our people (meaning the Latter-day Saints) that have not been given proper attention,is the teaching of the simple, essential rules of social conduct."Our correspondent is a bright young man who, being neglected by his father, began early to drift away from the Church, but who was checked in his outward wiy by a strange in- cident associated with the death of one of his sisters, who visited him in spirit, almost immediately after her death which occurred far away from her home. This strange circumstance started him to reflect seriously upon his religion, and he returned to the Church to become a useful member, for his own happiness and salvation, if he remain faithful to the end. In regard to the social conduct of our people, he tells us of his own experience among them, and concludes that through years of such experience, in many states where our people reside, espe- cially in the smaller communities, "our people need education along the line of essential rules of social conduct." He says: "In several years' rambling over the continent and periods of short residence in 'Mormon' communities, I have noticed quite a num- ber of fundamental rules of society almost entirely ignored by many Latter-day Saints." Then he mentions some instances in his own life. He was a school teacher in a good "Mormon" town, and later principal of the school. Many of the people had known him and his folks, but in the two years of active work in local affairs while there, he was invited into private homes only three times. A non-' 'Mormon" lived in a rented room with him. People seemed to like them, as they generally like teachers, and were in EDITOR'S TABLE. 991 public generally sociable and considerate, but he complains that few or none considered the life they led— all alone- month after month without the brotherly association which we all need. He admits that this coldness manifested was partly his fault. He excuses himself because he was young and partly drifting away from religion, but for which reason he justly reasons that he needed even more attention from those who possessed greater wis- dom and a wider experience. He also mentions that several people there, not of the faith of the Latter-day Saints, had often spoken to him of how exclusive the residents were in their home life. He refers to another occasion at a later date, when he spent two or three years in a town outside of Utah where two-thirds of the population were Latter-day Saints, the others being from the Eastern States. He complains that here, though his posi- tion demanded a wide mutual acquaintance, not any of the Latter-day Saints, for the first two years, ever showed him the their homes. hospitality of He says that at this time he was a member of no church, but the kind treatment, brotherly attention and consideration of a social nature would have had a wonderful effect for good. He needed, not intimacy, but that hearty hand of fellowship which lifts up the despondent, the morose and the unhappy, and at the same time loses nothing for the giver. On the other hand, the spirit among the Eastern people was more hos- pitable and many of them made him feel at home, though he knew none of them intimately. From these two instances, it appears that he would criticise that alleged exclusiveness among our people that disregards the young man or stranger who takes no part in our religious gather- ings or organizations — a kind of social ostracism which drives good young people who are indifferent to our cause, even though born among us, or are strangers in our midst, out of our society or away from our people. Whereas, if we were mindful of the simple, essential rules of social conduct, these people could be con- verted to our cause, or at least to feel unprejudiced and at home among us. And the question may well be asked: We spend mil- lions in seetring converts in the world outside of the Gathering, why not seek them at home, or at least show them these little social formalities that are prime requisites for good living and 992 IMPROVEMENT ERA. good society? These are questions that the Committee on Social Affairs, which we hope to see appointed in every Mutual Improve- ment association in the Church, may carefully consider, and I hope decide and work out for the instruction of the people, and for the best good of the cause and all concerned. Our correspondent names several other instances which involve a lack of consideration in calling upon strangers who come into communities, and upon emigrants who come from the old country; in ministering to those who are ill; in welcoming visit- ors into our cities and settlements, and showing courtesy to the stranger, provided he is a desirable citizen. Our various organ- izations, the priesthood, and the membership of the Church in general, may well ponder these statements, and remember that a consideration and practice of the best proprieties make brother- hood more valuable and genuine, and elevate the social conditions. It would prevent many immigrants from being led away from the path of virtue and good conduct, and from becoming dissatisfied with the Church and their surroundings. It would take away much of the sadness and loneliness of our earth-journey, and help human nature to tide over the dreary places along the pathway of life. Social amenities elevate all who study and practice them. There is another and an opposite phase of the matter which our friend also calls attention to, and that is placing extreme con- fidence in the stranger, which passes beyond hospitality, and be- comes intimacy before a thorough knowledge is obtained of his character. This is as great a fault as coolness, and is perhaps a greater breach of social amenities and the necessary rules of com- munity life. He calls attention to the fact that the Latter-day Saints are "notoriously hospitable. I have never found a people who could equal them in their liberality," he exclaims, "and yet in their goodness they forget the little things, as well as the larger ones, to their own and others' detriment." He adds, rather incongru- ously, that "strangers are often taken into their homes and given every liberty, and then, in after time, parentswonder why their sons and daughters become attached to the non-'Moimons.' " There is a wide difference between intimacy and the practice of the essential rules of good society; between courtesy and intimacy,