Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. SmithSmith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Religion
Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith
Smith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Latter Day Saint churches
VITALITY AND PATENT MEDICINES. Instead of flocking out to hear
smooth-tongued impostors people should leave them severely alone.
Instead of dosing themselves with patent medicines, they should
learn to keep their bodies healthy by right living (see Doctrine and
Covenants, Sec 89), by inhaling pure air, taking plenty of exercise,
and bathing not only often in fresh water, but also in the sunshine
with which our merciful Father has so abundantly provided us. If there
are cases of sickness, as there will be {303} notwithstanding any
precaution we may take, which common sense and good nursing, or simple
home remedies do not suffice to cure, let us follow the advice of the
Scriptures (James 5:14-16), but if we do not believe in the elders, or
in the prayer of faith saving the sick, let a reputable and faithful
physician be consulted. By all means, let the quack the traveling
fakir, the cure-all nostrum, and the indiscriminate dosing with patent
medicine, be abolished like so much trash.
The young man who would cope with the world, who would be full of
vigor, and fresh for the battle of life, will find his strength in
living according to the word of the Lord; for the promise is that all
"who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to
the commandments, shall receive health in their navel, and marrow to
their bones, and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge,
even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk
and not faint; and I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the
destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not
slay them."--_Improvement Era,_ Vol. 5, June, 1902, p. 624.
STAMP OUT PROFANITY AND VULGARITY. We should stamp out profanity, and
vulgarity, and everything of that character that exists among us; for
all such things are incompatible with the gospel and inconsistent with
the people of God.--_Oct. C. R.,_ 1901, p. 2.
SATURDAY'S WORK. A good modern eighth commandment might read something
like this: Do not so overwork and fret on Saturday as to deprive the
Sabbath of the devotions and worship that belong to it as a day of rest.
In the home, Saturday is the day set apart for house cleaning, for
extra cooking, for mending and all sorts of repairs that the Sabbath is
thought to require. In business, Saturday is a day for picking up all
lose ends, for closing up all the unfinished details of a week's work.
{304} The consequences of our modern treatment of the last day of the
week are too often manifested in an indolence and supine indifference
that make our feelings and a total lack of energy almost incompatible
with the spirit of worship. No worn-out man or woman, by the excessive
toil of an early Saturday morning and a late Saturday night, can
properly worship God in spirit and in truth.--_Juvenile Instructor,_
Vol. 44, July, 1909, p. 295.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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