Religion of Daily Life

Religion of Daily Life

A Practical Test

By Dr. James E. Talmage, of the Council of the Twelve

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, vir-

tuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we

follow the admonition of Paul — we believe all things, we hope

all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to

endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of

good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. — Arti-

cles of Faith, No. 13.

In this brief statement the Latter-day Saints proclaim the

practical character of their religion — a religion that embraces

not alone definite conceptions of spiritual matters, and belief as

to conditions in the hereafter, doctrines of original sin and the

actuality of heaven and hell, but also and more particularly of

present, current, every-day duties, in which self-respect, love for

fellow-men, and devotion to God are the guiding principles.

Religion without personal morality, professions of godliness

without charity, church membership without consistent conduct

in the common affairs of life are but as sounding brass and

tinkling cymbals — noise without music, the words of prayers

without the spirit.

"// any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth

not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion

is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father

is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and

to keep himself unspotted from the world?' (James 1:26, 27).

Religion Put to the Test

A good test of a man's religion is its utility. Religious pro-

fession used as a cloak — and that too often reserved for Sunday

wear, hiding in part the shabby rags of sin — is but sacrilege. In

any attempt to analyze a religious system or creed it is pertinent

to examine the results of its operation in the lives of its adher-

ents. This is as simple and fair as to judge a tree by the quality

of its substance and fruit. Altruism is an essential ingredient of

a religion that is worth while.

"// a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a

liar: for he that loveth not his brother ivhom he hath seen, how

can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this command-

RELIGION OF DAILY LIFE 257

ment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his

brother also" (I John 4:20, 21).

Missionary Service

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites at-

tention to its work of unselfish, practical, unremitting benev-

olence. In missionary service the Church has been active since

the date of its organization ; and this systematic labor, because of

its extent and unique methods, has attracted attention and stim-

ulated comment in practically all nations of the earth. Actuated

by a genuine love for humanity and the desire to obey the Divine

command respecting such, the Church sends out every year hun-

dreds of missionaries to proclaim its message to the world. These

devoted servants comprise men and women called from all voca-

tions, who serve without salary or any other form of material

remuneration. Furthermore, they pay their own way in travel-

ing to their appointed fields of labor and while serving therein,

except so far as they may receive assistance from those who be-

come interested in their work.

A desire common to young Latter-day Saints is to so live

that they shall be found worthy to be called into service to spend

a period of years, generally from two to four, as traveling min-

isters of the gospel of Christ. They offer their message without

money or price, carrying it to the doors in city and country, dis-

tributing literature, inviting conversation, but never forcing

themselves upon unwilling hearers. Who can consistently affirm

that such faithful servants as these are insincere or devoid of that

love for fellow-men without which genuine love of God is im-

possible?

The Relief Society

The benevolence that manifests itself in material giving is

impressed as a duty upon members of the Church, and while

every one is taught to assist the needy by individual effort, a

system of orderly contribution and distribution is maintained.

In each ward and branch of the Church an organization of

women known as the Relief Society is operative. Its particular

function is that of caring for the needy and the afflicted, without

exclusive distinction as to whether the subjects of their minis-

tration are members of the Church or not. The Relief Society

receives contributions of money, clothing, food and other com-

modities and distributes these as occasion requires, beside main-

taining a system of visitation to the needy, giving aid in nursing,

comfort in bereavement, and relief from distress in every way

possible.

Fasting and Prayer

The Church teaches the efficacy of prudent fasting, moderate

abstinence from food at stated times, as an accessory to prayer;

and the first Sunday of each month is observed as a fast-day. On

that day the people are invited to meet for special devotional

service, and by common consent and custom they contribute at

least the equivalent of the meals omitted through the fasting of

the family. These offerings are received by the local officers,

and are distributed under their direction to the worthy poor.

If there be a surplus in any ward it is applied to the needs of

other wards in which the proportion of dependent poor is

greater.

By these and other methods, including the tithing system to

be considered later, are the Latter-day Saints taught to give of

their substance for worthy purposes, and in such a way as to

avoid indiscriminate charity whereby perchance unworthy de-

pendency would be fostered. We believe that the harmony of

our prayers will become a discord if the cry of the deserving

poor accompany our supplications to the throne of Grace.

Missionaries of the New Haven Conference

Left to right, top row: Clarence B. Stewart, Mary I. Ingles, Amund

Levorsen, John Lamborn, La Verde Evans, Cecil Baker, Willard 0. An-

drus, C. E. McCombs, Eva Felsted.

Second row: Geo. B. Wynn, Frank J. Gilbert, Emily Caldwell, H.

I). Maughan, retiring conference president, Millie Tuller, L. W. Jeffery,

incoming conference president, W. Russell Tanner.

Front row: L. G. Alvord, Verland Beck.