Y.M.M.I.A.
Conference held in the Assembly Hall, January 16, 1881.
At 10 o’clock the meeting was called to order, and after singing and prayer, the roll of the representatives of the various wards of the stake was called and showed to be a very few unrepresented….
President Royal Barney Young said he was pleased to be an advocate of the principles of life and salvation, and felt the responsibility attached to being one. Spoke of the temptations which many fall a prey to, and advised the shunning of them. There were many who were good Latter-day saints in many respects, but in others were faulty. Those who blamed their fathers and mothers for their taste for intoxicating drinks, would, he believed, be held accountable, after what had been taught by the word of wisdom. He realized the evils which beset young men, and that how, step by step, they are forced by the jeers and sneers of companions to partake of temptations. In his early life he had disregarded the word of wisdom, but for five years had observed it, and advised his hearers to do likewise. He hoped to see the day when the young would shun the saloon as they would a viper. He explained how the young are led, step by step, until they become infatuated, and contract habits which are hard to break off; and as a word of warning described the follice and fate of a drunkard’s life. He strongly urged upon all to renounce bad habits….
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jan. 16, 1881, 4]
[Salt Lake Herald, Jan. 16, 1881]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
-End-