Lund Conference Report October 1907

From Karl G. Maeser

Anthon H. Lund, Conference Report, October 1907, p.11

A word about the Religion Classes. Our outlines for the coming winter present lessons on morality and purity of life, giving the children practical lessons in true living--in fact, teaching them practical religion; teaching them to pray, to be devoted to godliness and piety--I mean piety of the right kind--and teaching them to walk uprightly before the Lord. We have tried to make the outlines for the coming year conform as nearly as possible to these lines. Brother Maeser, who took such an interest in Religion Classes, was very desirous that teachers should take a special interest in the children, not alone in the schools or in the classes but when they were out of school. The Religion Classes being a part of the Church School system, he felt that the same guardianship should be exercised over the children belonging to these classes as is exercised over the children who attend the Church schools. You know the organizations we have there--how the teachers are trying to look after the children who are sent from distant homes to the Church schools, to see that their time is spent usefully, and that they are not getting into bad company, and bad practices and habits. In some of our stakes, the suggestion has been made that our Religion Class teachers help to look after the young at nights, help the probationary officers of the Juvenile Court to keep the children at home, to know something about them, and lovingly use an influence for good over these children who have been given into their charge in the Religion Classes. We hope this movement will be successful. and that it will extend throughout Zion, for we feel that we cannot take too much care of our children. They are precious charges given unto us, and the Lord will ask us to render an account, by and by, as to how we have taken care of them. I feel deeply concerned about our children, and I know all the Latter-day Saints feel the same. Let us watch over our children in their amusements. Lately, the old custom of the young and the old mingling together in amusement has become obsolete, and we leave the children alone in their dances and sociables. It would be well for the Bishops who can exercise an influence upon the management of amusements in the wards to see that older people be present with the children, so that our children, when they associate together, may not come under improper influences.