Editorial

EDITORIAL Hugh J. Cannon Managing Editor Heber J. Grant Editor Elsie Talmage Brandley Associate Editor Life's Sweetest Story JF ever humans are able to love their enemies, it is under the mellowing influence of the Christmas spirit. Innumerable sermons will be delivered during this season in which love for mankind is urged. That is commendable, but need for a more concentrated brand of affection -is often painfully apparent. Men sincerely love their wives and children, and yet if a stranger should address them in the tone which the husband sometimes uses, his anger would be aroused to a dangerous pitch. Now that his com- panion has given herself to him, he at times speaks harshly and often neglects to express his love in words, as he was so eager to do in the enchanting days of courtship. And does the wife, too, forget to voice her tender feelings for him? Without becoming morbid, married people might profitably remember: sooner or later one or the other will follow the cherished companion to the cem- etery. Then recollection of unkind words will scorch the mourner's heart. Parents jwho express love for their children will be well repaid, as will children also who tell parents of their devotion. In a recent missionary meeting, a young .elder said: "As a small lad I heard it suggested that children should tell their parents daily that they love them. I decided to try it. The result was delightful, and I continued until it became a habit. Sometimes ,when vexed at my parents, I went to bed without doing so, but it was like going to bed without praying, and usually I got up, went to their room, and told them I did love them anyway." A few days after this meeting, President Grant cabled something like ,this: "Notify — his mother just died." The news was broken as gently as possible. Then the mission president said, "That you told your mother so often of your love must be very comfort- ing to you now that she is gone." The boy shed tears as he expressed his gratitude for the frequent manifestations of his affection. A world of truth is in the words of the old song: "Tell me that you love me, for that's the sweetest story ever told." -flC^^B* If More Would Do It VJlTE understand that Richard R. Lyman, of the Council of the Twelve and First Assistant General Superintendent of the Y. M. M. I. A., has undertaken to secure pledges from at least one hun- dred leading business men in Salt Lake City that they will live in accordance with the law themselves and endeavor to get others to do likewise. He proposes also to secure this pledge from at least one hundred prominent citizens of Utah and from one hundred eminent educators, statesmen and scientists of the nation. He was encouraged to begin this undertaking by a statement that if one hundred of the leading citizens of Salt Lake City would live in accordance with the law, and endeavor to persuade others to do so, much of our trouble with prohibition would be .over. Dr. Lyman announced publicly at our General Conference that he would not knowingly cast his vote for any man for any office who does not him- self observe the law. He prepared questions which were submitted to all candidates for office on all the tickets in Salt Lake County. On jhis questionnaire were two quotations from Abraham Lincoln: "Bad laws, if they exist,- — should be repealed as soon as possible; still, while they continue in force — they should be religiously observed." "Let every American swear by the blood of the 'Revolution never to violate in the least particular the laws of the country, and never to tolerate their violation by others." Dr. Lyman draws attention to the fact that every official is required solemnly to swear that he will sup- port, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Utah and that he will dis- charge the duties of his office with fidelity. The man- ufacture, sale, distributing, giving away, or serving of liquor in Utah is by State law "forever pro- hibited." We quote further from his questionnaire: "Will any one object if we serve a little champagne on this occasion?" asked a Salt Lake business man of a group of his associates. One of those present replied: "Since I am trying to live in accordance with the instructions of Abraham Lincoln and to follow the example of the Presi- dent of the United States and his good wife who have publicly announced that they will not participate in any function, social or otherwise, where the law is broken, I shall ask to be excused from this meeting if you are going to serve champagne." The champagne was not served. Two of the questions Dr. Lyman propounded to aspirants for office are: 1. Do you promise to live in accordance with the law, including that of prohibition? 2. Do you promise to refuse to participate in any social or other function where the law is broken? Voters have the right to know whether or not the men who are asking for their support are standing for law and order. If they are inclined to be some- what indifferent, it will strengthen their backbones to know that reputable citizens will demand from them an accounting.