A Divorce Civilization Will Regret

A Divorce Civilization Will Regret By Dr. Hugh M. Woodward, Department of Education, Brigham Young University A problem of modern civilization which is giving much concern to earnest observers is the separation of religious attitudes from the industrial, political, and intellectual in- terests of life. Of recent years there has been a marked in- crease in the tendency of individuals in society to have one code for religious interests, another for business, another for politics, and still others for different practical phases of life. In the world of education the separation of religious attitudes and pure intellectualism has reached such a point that many of our leading thinkers question whether university training is doing its part to prepare moral and ethical men. It is charged by one of the leading statesmen of the nation that many of the intrigues, plots, and unlawful schemes which are perpetrated against society in various phases of life are created and directed by mm ersity brains. It is to be deeply regretted that in our political life personal advantage, special privilege, and the desire to control, dominate to such an extent that men who should be statesmen are swerved from a conscientious path to one of mere expediency. The phrase, "It is business," represents the attitude of a large portion of the business world toward things financial and industrial. It is a terse way of saying that what holds good in ethics and morals and religion does not necessarily hold in the business world. Selfish interests are not altogelher to blame for the con- dition described above. The very philosophy of many of the churches concerning religious and practical life has done much to produce the separation. A minister called upon me some time ago and said he was desirous of doing the people of Utah as much good as possible. I asked him if he had any particular message to bring to them. He said his principal thought was to show the people the difference between "Mormonism" and Chris- tianity. I asked him what the essential characteristics of Chris- tianity are as he conceived them. He said the main one was to do good to others, and I asked him if that were the dividing line between "Mormonism" and Christianity. "No," he said, "I wouldn't say that." "Well what are the other elements of Christianity as you understand them?" After naming a number, each time I would

A DIVORCE CIVILIZATION WILL REGRET 593 ask him if that were the thing that makes the distinction be- tween "Mormonism" and Christianity. Finally he said, The great difference between 'Mormonism' and Christianity lies in the fact that the 'Mormons' have blas- phemed God and degraded religion by making it so material- istic and by laying so much stress upon the temporal and practical in their religious worship." I asked him if he con- ceived of the temporal and practical as being contradictory to the spiritual. He said, "There are two elements in the universe, material and spirit. Spirit is always opposed to the temporal or material and the material is opposed to the spirit. This notion of spirituality is a \ery common one. Here spirituality is conceived of as some element of human life abstracted from the rest of life. The monks who withdrew from the political and social life of Rome in order to engage in religious pursuits to the exclusion of everything else, had something of the same philosophy. Some years ago I spent a week in southern Utah with Dr. H. H. Powers. After saying many fine things about the people of this section he said, "There is one thing in which I have been very much disappointed. It seems to me that the "Mormon" people have become a spiritualless people. They have become so engrossed in the temporal things of life that the spiritual has been neglected." It was evident that Dr. Powers had a conception of spirit- uality akin to the one just described. I explained to him that the "Mormons" had not become a spiritualless people because they had included temporal interests in their religion, but that they had an entirely different notion of spirituality, that spirituality of them was not a something separated from the rest of life but rather an attitude toward all the interests of life. The spiritually which dominates the Latter-day Saint Church is a tendency in the souls of the people to seek co-operation and a better adjustment with the intelligent, progressive and safe powers of the universe, to co-operate with God in all the affairs of life in such a way that political, social, and industrial interests might be lived with an eye singde to the greatest spiritual development of the individual; that the individual who lives the philosophy of the "Mormon" Church is not self- sufficient in business and politics and intellectuality, and humble only in his supplication to God, but he looks upon life as a unit. He looks upon the temporal, the spiritual, and the social as im- portant elements of a life that can be lived in co-operation with the directing Spirit of God. He is, therefore, humble in all things and strives for greater inspiration and knowledge of God, for a better adjustment to the universe as a whole, for a more

594 IMPROVEMENT ERA perfect co-operation with other individuals in the business of creating "life more abundant." He is also grateful for his job, whether it be on a farm, in the factory, or as a professor of education, and looks upon it as an opportunity of co-operating with God in bringing to pass a richer life for the souls of men. He, therefore, becomes whole hearted in his response toward the progressive forces of life. As he strives to see the oneness in the purpose of the intelligent forces of the universe, he becomes a student of the highest order. His scientific research in the var- ious fields is as much a prayer to God for co-operation as is his supplication in his secret chamber. His efforts to construct the temporal things of life, in the colonizing of new territory, building useful industries, or creating means of harmless en- joyment are as much a sermon for good as is any that could be delivered from the pulpit. He sees the handiwork of God in all things that exist, and therefore his entire life, whether it is in the construction of temporal things, scientific research, philosophic thinking, or prayer and devotion to his Creator, is controlled by his overwhelming desire to co-operate with the responsible and life-giving forces of the world. More than this '"Mormon ism," in its actual workings, has presented an example which corresponds to this philosophy. About two years ago a prominent educator said to me, "The remarkable thing about your Church is that it seems to. satisfy all classes — the rich and the poor, the learned and the unlearned, men as well as women, and the old as well as the young." This universal satisfaction is no mere chance. One reason for it, no doubt, is the importance placed upon the entire range of man's legitimate activity. The Latter-day Saints have not become spiritualless, as was suggested, but be- cause of their fundamental philosophy concerning the nature of matter and spirit, they have spiritualized the temporal and prac- tical, and made practical the spiritual. The prayer has become a part of the digging of the ditch, and the digging of the ditch has become a part of their prayer. There is no special group of individuals who are trained in spirituality because spirituality is not conceived of as something that can be wrapped up in a robe. It is rather an attitude toward all the phases and interests of life. The bishops of wards and presidents of stakes, from the be- ginning of the Church, have been chosen because of their ability to do practical things, and because of their attitude that all these practical things should be done with an eye single to the glory of God and a complete development of the individual. The Church has concerned itself with the building of educational systems, social and recreational systems, industries which would make for a stable and wholesome community life; and, in fact, with

A DIVORCE CIVILIZATION WILL REGRET 595 all things that pertain to the lives of its members. Every man, wcman, and child in the Church becomes a worker and bears a responsibility equal to his or her ability to serve. The various Church duties assumed pertain to all the worthy interests of life. The spiritual attitude is a thing common to all. The deacon of twelve years has it in the cutting of the widow's wood as well as has the President of the Church in the management of a general conference. There is no place that a line can be drawn where one set of interests can be called religious and the other temporal, where one can be called spiritual and the other intellectual. Consequently, the entire range of interests of the individual who espouses the philosophy and the system, is unified by a religious attitude, the principal characteristic of which is a belief that all things are good which contribute to a man's greater joy and satisfaction. There are many reasons for the apparent separation that has taken place in society in these various life interests. It is not my purpose to discuss them here. Some, perhaps, have been unavoidable, and some are avoidable, but the fact remains that where the separation has taken place, and where the moral and ethical grip does not control the intellectual forces, selfish- ness, greed and dissipation have taken the place of altruism, statesmanship, and a responsible, temperate life. How far the forces of society can be trained to take on this unified attitude only the future can tell, but if "Mormonism" should do nothing more than present to the world a practical demonstration of a unified religious attitude in the solution and living of the entire range of life interests, it will perform a service to the world the beneficial results of which cannot be measured. Prow, Utah. Little Blossoms You are late, very late, little blossoms, The sun would not woo, While the north wind blew, And that made you late, little blossoms. 'Tis true, you are late, little blossoms, We've watched for you long, Since rang the first song, Of the birdlings' return, little blossoms. Though you are late, little blossoms. We're glad you are here, Your faces of cheer Make our earth the more fair, little blossoms. And we know your sweet breath, little blossoms. Exhales from the deeps Of your heart, where sleeps Your best gift for man, little blossoms! Provo, Utah Grace Ingles Frost