Sunday Baseball

Sunday Baseball

Considering all that has been said and written, it is a little strange that a brother in a northern Utah stake of Zion should write the Era to know what "stand the Church takes concerning Sunday baseball, and why?" He adds that he knows of "Mutual officers who argue that there is no harm in it. Many of the young people think it nothing to attend ball games on Sunday, and say they see no harm in it, because we must have time in life for some pleasure as well as work." Briefly, we answer the Church discountenances, discourages :

and warns the young people against indulgence in all kinds of work, games, excursions, feasts, amusements and strenuous pleas- ures upon the Sabbath day. Why? Because it is a day appointed by direct command of God, unto the Saints and their children, to rest and to pay their devotions unto the Most High. In other words, it is a day of rest, which means a day of cessation or intermission of exertion or labor, when the body and mind should be kept free from weariness, disturbance and strenuous activity — a day of peace ;

for the mind, body and spirit. And further, as we are told, it is a day when people should

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pay their devotions to God, which means a day to express their love and ardent affection for Him by acts of worship, song, prayer, thanksgiving and praise. It is a day when we are asked to offer a sacrifice to the Lord, in righteousness. Sacrifice means giving a desirable thing in be- half of a declared higher object — base ball and other amusements, for example, for a humble and penitent spirit. A precious promise is given to those who will do this, and it is worth testing. The Church teaches its membership that not a promise of the Lord shall fail where the Saints do their part and keep their covenants with Him. 'This promise is that, inasmuch as the Saints will do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, the fulness of the earth and the good things which come of it are theirs. A promise which we take to mean that refraining from work and pleasure on the Sabbath day and devoting oneself to the proper worship of the Lord, shall in no wise cause us to lose money nor health, nor suffer for lack of a time for recreation. Besides this promise, there is a very important reason given, in the word of the Lord, why the Saints should not work, nor play baseball upon the Sabbath day but rather should devote the day ;

to worship, devotion and righteous sacrifice. It is this :"That thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world." Keeping the Sabbath day holy is a shield against the vices and sins of the world. And what father or son, what mother or daughter, are there who do not need this simple but sure protection to keep them and their loved ones from the world's besetting sins? Now, "we must have some time for pleasure as well as work." That is true, and for this good reason the M. I. A. are unanimous for this slogan, in every ward of the Church, and we hope the authorities and parents may see the need and wisdom of it "We stand for a sacred Sabbath and a weekly half holiday." Furthermore, here is another slogan that appeals to parents and children, which the M. I. A. have adopted so that righteous principles may be taught "We stand for a weekly home evening." Both these are Church movements and no stake or ward au- thority will find anything but encouragement from the General Authorities, in adopting them. Those who read the message from the First Presidency in the June Era on "Home Evening," and who attended the priesthood meeting at the last general confer- ence and listened to the remarks of President Chas. W. Penrose are thoroughly informed on how the Church authorities stand on this matter. It need only be said in conclusion that the Church is against Sunday baseball, because it is in direct opposition to the word of the Lord, and has a tendency to drag the youth of Zion into the

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wickedness of the world. Then, to encourage the observance of a sacred Sabbath, a weekly half-holiday should be given the young people, for needed recreation. An evening a week should be ,

devoted in the family to the teaching of the gospel and the enjoy- ment of the pleasures of home life.