Is Religion Worth While?

"If 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 the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." ¶

These words from the epistle of James seem rather pertinent today, since so many people, at this time, are thinking more than ever before upon the plan of salvation, and the redemption of the human soul. Defined, religion is the outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of a God or Gods having power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service and honor are due. Specifically stated, it is conforming by faith and life— or by faith and works, if you please — to the precepts inculcated in the Bible respecting the conduct of life and duty toward God and man. Aside from what we believe, and practice, and know, a question occurred to me a short time ago, about the time of the death of Mr. E. H. Harriman, the greatest railroad magnate that the world has known, I presume. In reading a letter, which was supposed to have been read at his funeral, and which he had caused to be written to those residing on his vast estate,— the question occurred to me, Is religion worth while? Referring to those who have made a success in life financially and otherwise, and who feel independent of people of this world, is it worth while for them to be religious? This is the letter he wrote: To the men residents of Arden: The lack of interest on your part is discouraging to those who provide means whereby you can have the important privilege of attending church services. Fair weather Christians are of no more use in a community than the same sort of laborer, milkman, dairyman, farmer, carpenter, blacksmith, railroadman, or any kind of a fair-weather man. It seems to me that your responsibility does not end with yourself, but extends to those over whom you have an influence. The opportunity is given your children for religious training at Sunday School, and the church for yourselves and families, if you avail yourselves of it. I hope by next Sunday, that you may evidence more interest by attending the service." ¶

This incident in the life of that man, coupled with another related at the same time, indicates his greatness. We are told that on one occasion, at the holiday season, he discovered that a child of one of his laborers had been overlooked and would receive no remembrance in the way of a Christmas gift. He himself went out into the snow, in the middle of the night, and walked three miles to that woman's home to assure her that her child would not be forgotten. A man that can entertain such ideas as this for religious worship and its necessity, with such an attitude toward those of the human race with whom he is connected, cannot help but be a great man. So I thought that it might be profitable to look into the lives of other great men of whom we have heard or have come in contact, and see if, perchance, they had not been religious; and the religious side of some of these men was gone into with a great deal of interest. Since the discovery of this great country, when Columbus, with those who were with him, bowed down on his knees and kissed the earth, and thanked the God of the universe for having guided and directed them to this land, — coming down through history to the great patriot and father of the country, George Washington, as well as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and all the great men, in fact, who had anything to do in the framing of the destinies of this new country, were men who acknowledged a living God. They acknowledged the existence of a divine being who ruled the destinies not only of men but of nations; and they recognized His hand in the affairs of this blessed country of ours. ¶

Yesterday, when President Smith referred to the home and what it should be and consist of, I was reminded of Moroni who, at the age of twenty-five, stood at the head of the Nephite armies of this country, who fought and gave up their life's blood, — and what was it for? For the dual reason of protecting their homes and their religion, equally. Did they realize what these two institutions meant to them? That is what they fought for and prayed for. After they were successful in overcoming the opponents who, outnumbering them, the first thing they did was to say to their enemies that the Lord had seen fit to place them in their hands, and it was by His goodness and mercy that such conditions had been brought to pass. ¶

The thinking man today is reaching out in his contemplations far beyond mortality. It is inborn in the human race to have some conception and idea of God; and today, more than at any other time, I believe, among the sectarians, they are realizing this truth,— that God is a living being, and that their bodies are immortal. Immortal life is so closely connected with us and our work, our religion, our faith, I would like to read a few lines of the inspired poetess, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, which, perhaps, explains our position, or at least it suits my view, particularly in regard to the question of immortality: "Immortal life is something to be earned, By slow, self-conquest, comradeship with pain, And patient seeking after higher truths. ¶

We cannot follow our own wayward wills And feed our baser appetites and give Loose reins to foolish tempers, year on year, And then cry, 'Lord, forgive me, I believe— ' And straightway bathe in glory. Men must learn God's system is too great a thing for that; The spark divine dwells in each soul, and we Can fan it to a steady flame of light, Whose lustre guilds the pathway of the tomb And shines on through eternity, or else Neglect it till it simmers down to death And leaves us but the darkness of the grave. ¶

Each conquered passion feeds the living flame; Each well-borne sorrow is a step toward God. ¶

Faith cannot rescue, and no blood redeem The soul that will not reason and resolve. ¶

Lean on thyself, yet prop thyself with prayer, For these are spirits, messengers of light, Who come at call and fortify thy strength, Make friends with thee and with thine inner self, Cast out all envy, bitterness, and hate, And keep the mind's fair tabernacle pure; Shake hands with Pain, give greeting unto Grief, Those angels in disguise; and thy glad soul, From light to light, from star to shining star, Shall climb and claim blest immortality." ¶

I bear you witness, my brethren and sisters, of the divinity of this work in which we are engaged. I bear my humble testimony to the truth of, and I feel to subscribe to, the principles enunciated by President Smith at the opening of this conference. I pray God's blessings to rest upon him and strengthen him in the loss of his beloved companion and counselor in this Church. I pray God's blessing upon us all, that we may be endowed with sufficient of His Spirit to live uprightly, to do our duty to our fellow-man and to our God, through Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶