Latter-day Saints Church at Mesa, Arizona

WORSHIP 835

The violation of law must have a reaction some time, and

when the reaction takes place it requires double energy to reestab-

lish a normal condition. Let me further illustrate The boy

:

with a splendid intellect, for instance, smokes a cigarette, his first

attempt arouses the instinct within, and it promptly tells him that

he has violated a law. But if he continues to smoke cigarettes,

it deadens the instinct to such an extent that he soon becomes al-

most immune to the law. His mind, at first, is keen and sharp

like a razor-blade, but draw the razor-blade over a hard surface

once, and it affects its keenness continue the process, and in time

;

the edge will become blunt, and of no service. So in the scale

of morality the continued violation of the rules that govern it

;

unfits and disqualifies us for worship. It is stated that,

"Immorality of itself never won to its support the inward voice;

conscience, if questioned, never forgets to curse the guilty with the mem-

ory of sin, to cheer the upright with the meek tranquility of approval.

And this admirable power which is the instinct of Deity is the at-

tribute of every man."

LATTER-DAY SAINTS CHURCH, AT MESA, ARIZONA

836 IMPROVEMENT ERA

Immorality cannot enter into true worship. True, the im-

moral can enter into places of worship and participate in the

forms of worship, bul his soul is immune, so to speak, to the

spirit of it. True worship can only be known through the chan-

nels of true living, and when I say true living, I do not wish to

convey the idea that thoughts alone constitute a true life. Thoughts

are useless without application. It requires, therefore, the util-

ization of thought to give growth, strength and power. To wor-

ship in truth, one must know how, and what to think. One

must understand the true relationship between thought and ac-

tion. One must be sincere, honest in word and deed, conform

himself to the laws of morality, and live beyond reproach.

This thing we call worship carries with it a significant power,

a power that is strong and far-reaching. Those who worship in

truth, radiate this power, and are stronger and more powerful

than those who worship not, regardless of the fact that they have

lived good lives.

Religious worship is the medium through which the greatest

power in the world operates it has in it the life-saving elements

;

of the human soul. gives courage to the oppressed, uplifts the

It

down-trodden, sends a ray of light into the eyes of the blind, car-

ries comfort to the poor, encompasses God's great universe,

and

breathes the breath of life into the human race.

Money power has its mission it turns the wheels of industry,

:

giving countless millions their daily bread, clothes them, and

furnishes the material sustenance of life. It drives countless

trains across the continent at lightning speed, carrying

human

freight hither and thither, and conveying the products of agri-

culture and the mine to their destination. The great ships that

traverse the oceans are the results of money power,

which

has also made it possible for men to transmit messages

from

hemisphere to hemisphere, over seas and land in the twinkling of

an eye. This money power has provided all the conveniences

that

bless the civilizations of the world yes, it has its

; mission. But

the greater Power that has operated upon the

minds of men to

invent all these conveniences is the Power that governs

and con-

trols the destinies of men. It is the Power by which the world

revolves upon its axis, the Power through which,

and by which

the worlds were created. It is the Power by which we should

know how and why we worship.

Political power also has its mission, in that

it should provide

good government. In the Articles of Confederation,

and also in

the Declaration of Independence, the

exercise of free worship

is provided for, and those

men who were instruments in draft-

ing these declarations of truth are the

kind of men who make

history for our profit and good. Great considerationshould be

given to these men because of the work they accomplished in

: ;

WORSHIP 837

giving to us free will in our worship. It is also a gratification to

know that the great power that came from Washington, Lincoln,

and others of our patriot fathers, came by reason of their de-

votion and worship. The political power of our country is most

splendid in its purpose, in that it is so democratic in form. It

provides for a system of free thought and free worship that no

other government in the whole world enjoys. The advent of the

Pilgrim fathers into this land was the beginning of our nation's

civilization. It was the dawn of a new era, and the beginning

of a new peace on earth, to worship in freedom and in confidence,

to feel and give expression to high moral truths that would build

strong their great motives.

When people are found living in harmony with a high law,

they need but few lawgivers. Where the instinct of man is devel-

oped, and he is in tune with high and splendid principles, the spirit

of true worship is in his soul. It has been a mighty struggle, a

glorious victory. These Pilgrims had suffered oppression and

tyranny, and we know there comes a time when the human soul,

after it has been abused and afflicted, will seek for a new home, an

asylum of rest, where its spark of divine truth can expand and op-

erate ; where love and confidence can dwell together in peace

where inspiration can build and uplift, and where true worship

can be made the great ruling power of the world.

The desire to worship is a most beautiful thing. While it

requires a struggle, at times, to bring about a condition of mind

and soul preparatory to worship, it must be remembered that vic-

tory in any form is never gained without a struggle, and the

greater the struggle, the greater the victory, and the more splendid

the result. The consciousness of having won a hard-fought strug-

gle is one of the proudest, most satisfying feelings that comes

into one's life. I refer to one great character in our nation's his-

tory, who no doubt contributed much to bring aboout a condition

which permitted free worship in this land. Thomas Payne, when

he wrote his book called The Crisis, made use of these words

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier, and

the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of his

country, but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of

man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered, yet we

have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict the more

glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap we esteem too

lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven

knows how to put a proper price upon its goods, and it would be

strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be

highly rated."

This book was read to every regiment, the purpose being

to infuse courage into the sinking spirits of the soldiers. It was

an awful struggle, this Revolutionary war, yet it had to be.

There was a yearning, an intensified desire to be free. Freedom,

838 IMPROVEMENT ERA

you know, is gained by the utilization of high thought. There is,

and always has been, an expansion of that freedom, and where

that liberty has been suppressed there has been, of necessity, a

struggle. It is true that under conditions of this kind, our souls

are tried, and sometimes it has happened that the struggle for

freedom has separated the loves of household and kindred but ;

the result of it all is, and always has been, the development of

truth, a better civilization, higher morals, and better worship.

In the minds of some, it matters very little where they wor-

ship, so long as theirs is a sincere and true worship. Some receive

their inspiration while in the fields at work, and this is a glorious

worship. Our inspiration can come in the school room, upon the

mountain top, in the bowels of the earth, out upon the broad. seas,

in our homes or in the church. In any and all of these places,

there can be a development of the instinct within. The indi-

vidual can easily adjust himself, if his mind is susceptible to the

spirit of worship, to all conditions that arise. As to the choice

of where to worship, it is a matter of opinion, some worship ex-

clusively in the church, and that is the extent of their worship.

Some use the church for a place of worship, because they feel a

reverence for the church itself, and consequently receive their

satisfaction from this kind of worship. Others make home a

place in which to worship, and it would appear to my mind that

the home is equal to any other place in which to pay tribute, and

worship. I am of the opinion that the home is the place to con-

centrate upon the one great purpose, and that one purpose is to

emphasize the power of a well-lived life, and of efficacy of wor-

ship. In my opinion, family worship provides for a preparation

for public service, which in itself is significant. True family ser-

vice,honest in purpose, is the service that really counts. In this

connection the relationship between public service and the home

becomes a means of better citizenship. If the proper provision

were made in the home for family worship, then our church wor-

ship would become more effective, and a combination of the two

would become ideal. It is usually conceded that the church is

the proper place in which to worship. In this there can be no

mistake nor controversy, because churches are built for this very

purpose; but the worship of the individual who has his being

attuned to worship, whether he be in the Church or out of it, is

the worship that radiates power and influence. If we were to

select men and women for service, whether in the church or out

of it. it would be those people who carry with them an influence

that radiates and thrills. There is a difference in religious wor-

ship. Some conform to the ceremonies of worship because they

fe:l in so doing their standing in society will not be questioned;

yet who in their hearts are morally corrupt. An individual whJ

carries with him insincere thoughts will sooner or later commit

WORSHIP • 839

insincere deeds, and his worship will be a condemnation instead of

a help. Hypocrites cannot live in society. They cannot live in

the Church. They may make pretentions, but in the end the false

fruits of their labors will be known. I wish to emphasize the

thought that honesty should be the governing motive of our lives

in all our endeavors. If there is honesty in our hearts, our whole

lives will be actuated by correct living, and we will be in a posi-

tion to deal correctly with worship. Honesty in its full, sense of

meaning is one of the very rare elements in which all of us are

deficient. We deceive ourselves, by not complying with the prin-

ciples of honesty.

O how splendid, indeed, is an honest man or woman How!

much of this world's progress depends upon the highest type of

citizenship, and how necessary it is to inculcate the truth into the

service we do each day.

"I like the man who faces what he must,

With a step triumphant, and a heart of cheer.

Who fights the daily battle without fear;

Sees his hopes fail, yet keeps the unfaltering trust,

That God is God; that somehow true and just,

His plans work out for mortals. Not a tear

He sheds when fortune, which the world holds dear,

Falls from his grasp. Better with love a crust,

Than living in dishonor. Envies not,

Nor looses faith in man, but does his best.

Nor even murmurs at his humble lot,

But with a smile and words of hope, gives zest

To every toiler. He alone is great

Who by a life heroic conquers fate."

In our discussion of the development of the instinct, it was

my purpose to leave the thought that this inborn feeling was a

part of our mental or soul system, and that in all people there is

a supernatural power. Through the development of this instinct,

or supernatural power, we can in time know who and what to

worship. To my mind this is the most important part of our

thought on this important subject. We may have our ideals, and

these ideals may govern our attitude in worship. There may be

men who stand out as most splendid examples of inspiration and

thought, and in our hearts we idolize, and in many instances

worship them, but the important thing is to know and feel that

in our worship we are recognizing the proper One in whom we

should rely for our guidance in life.

There are millions of people today who worship idols of

stone, the sun, the moon and the stars, only through habit and ;

in it all, the operations of the instinct, of this supernatural power,

governs to an extent. The people, for instance, who worship the

sun, use the sun as the medium through which the great power,

as they call it, operates. It is not in reality the sun or the moon,

840 IMPROVEMENT ERA

nor even idols that they worship, but it is the Great Governing

Korce behind all of these creations to which they submit their

souls.

There are some who idolize and even worship men who

have been great reformers in their time. This class is called hero

worshipers. Among the Arabs, for instance, they have their

Mahomet. He is their hero, their idol, their great guide. They

look upon him as one inspired of God a prophet, a man

;

of God, not God. I pause long enough to state that the

advent of this great man in the world has had a direct

bearing on the world's progress. His life each day develops and

grows, and has become strong and masterful among his race.

He has a following of idolizers who pay homage to his mem-

ory. Of course, it requires time in which to judge greatness, and

the great significance connected with this man is the fact that

one hundred and eighty millions of people worship at his shrine.

Carlyle tells us "The most significant feature in the history of

:

an epoch is the manner it has of welcoming a great man." This

man Mahomet is numbered among the mighty men of the earth,

and the hundred and eighty millions of people who are followers

of his word, welcome him as one sent of God yet it required a ;

long period of years, after his death, for the people to determine

his greatness.

Real great men do not boast of their greatness, others dc

that for them : Carlyle in speaking of great men gives us this

statement:

Li: . 3

"The great man's sincerity is of the kind he cannot speak of, is

not conscious of, nay, I suppose he's conscious rather of insincerity,

for what man can walk accurately by the law of truth for one day?

No, the great man does not boast himself sincere, far from that; per-

haps does not ask himself if he is so; I would say rather his sin-

cerity does not depend upon himself; he cannot help being sincere.

The great fact of existence is great to him; fly where he will, he cannot

get out of the awful presence of his reality. His mind is so made, he is

great by that, first of all. Fearful and wonderful, real as life,, real as

death, is this universe to him. Though all men forget its truth and

walk in vain show, he cannot. At all moments the flame-image

glares in upon him; undeniable, there, there; I wish you to take this

as my primary definition of a great man, a little man may have this,

it is competent to all men that God has made; but a great man can-

not be without it."

Mahomet's people were Arabs, were gifted people, brilliant

and beautiful, they boasted of many poets before Mahomet's time.

They recognized the planets, the natural objects as symbols, im-

mediate manifestations of God's great power. All God's works

are still in a sense symbols of God. This man Mahomet, after

seeking the unknown power, or responding to the Instinct of wor-

ship within, declares that he received his message from the un-

seen world. This inspiration taught him that the worship of the