THE WAYS OF THE WORLD,

OR THERE’S A POOL TABLE IN BRIGHAM CITY

 

Frequent references to problems arising out of exposure to outside influences and the sophistication of the encroaching non-Mormon world reveal a constant concern to preserve the life style of the saints. Temptations brought to the perception of the youth from the outside world together with the provocative presence of the “ungodly” in the community constituted an unceasing threat to the preservation of the faith.

            Clem enjoyed thumbing through “Uncle John’s Journal” reminiscing as he pointed out such items as the meeting minutes. “I remember when many of these matters were discussed in our meetings and homes.  Of course, that was sometimes back,” he observed, as he pointed to several notations beginning with a page dated December 15, 1880:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Brother Box exhorted the quorum to instruct their families at home in relation to the matters presented to us this evening by President O. G. Snow. Understood that the gentile store wanted a license to bring in a pool table and open up a billiard saloon, they want to make gamblers of our young men. Referred to things that transpired in saloons, and said that the apostates in Brigham City were imbued with the same spirit as the apostates in Salt Lake. All they lack is the power, if they had the power we could not live here.

 

Brother Wight said he had been informed that some of the children of the saints hired Booth's boys to trade for them at the gentile store. If this was so, the sooner it is stopped the better.

 

Brother James Pett remarked that it appeared to him that the devil is let loose upon us…. it looks as though we are going to be placed under circumstances when it will be kown whether we will sustain the priesthood of God, or the devil and his friends. The apostates may build saloons and gambling halls in our midst, but if all those professing to be saints were indeed saints, they would not prosper, but go down.