THE BIBLE IN OUR LITERATURE

Dr. Howard R. Driggs

Lesson 7 – Bible Influence as Revealed in Sermons, Essays, and Orations

For Tuesday, April 16, 1946

Added to the treasured songs, stories, and plays that have been created for our recreation, we have a wealth of choice sermons, essays, and orations. As distinguished from the lyric, epic, and dramatic types of literature, already presented in these lessons, the sermon, essay, and oration are in a general sense more didactic in purpose and spirit. They teach or portray facts and truths of life with more directness.

At times, this didactic type of literature rises to classic heights. All down the stream of time men have voiced their thoughts and feelings – have tried to do what they felt was right. Often what was said rang with such force that it echoed and re-echoed through the years. For illustration:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident – that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” – Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson.

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” – Gettysburg Speech, Abraham Lincoln

Only great occasions bring forth such soul-stirring expressions. When a nation is at a crisis, some leader usually rises to voice the heart of the people. When truth is soundly, aptly spoken, the words are caught up and passed on as maxims for guidance, as clarion calls to duty. Usually such expressions, as the ones above, are simple, direct, rhythmic, easy to remember. In word or spirit, they reveal Bible inspiration.

In “times that try men’s souls,” those who bear the responsibility of leadership, almost unfailingly turn to Holy Writ for light and strength.

During Britain’s darkest days of World War II, when Winston Churchill could promise his people only “blood, sweat, toil and tears,” he constantly held faith and courage before them in words such as these:

“The task which has been set us is not beyond our strength; its pangs and toils are not beyond our endurance. As long as we have faith in our cause, and unconquerable will power, salvation will not be denied us. In the words of the Psalmist: ‘He shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.’”

Later, when the clouds had lifted, he could look back through the dark days and say:

“All the world, even our best friends, thought that our end had come … We were united in that solemn, majestic hour … We faced our duty, and by the mercy of God we were preserved.”

Such bracing of men and women for their duties is by no means limited to times of deepest distress. In less degree it comes with everyday needs. All of us, great or small, are constantly saying things to try to help the world along.

One thing that marks our daily talk is folk sayings that have come down as a homely heritage of wisdom. Everyone will recall some of these old, time-tested bits of advice that fell from the lips of grandmother, grandfather or parents, or some helpful-spirited neighbor. Here are just a few samples:

Don’t let the grass grow under your feet.
Remember, a stitch in time saves nine.
Honesty is the best policy.
Handsome is as handsome does.

Frequently a bit of wisdom came in verse, as:

The Devil was sick – the Devil a monk would be;
The Devil was well – the Devil a monk was he.

– Rabelais

A goodly part of our didactic literature, indeed, is cast into verse form – this to make it easier to learn by heart. Songs sung in religious service are in large measure more didactic than lyric. A central purpose in their creation is to impress a gospel lesson. For illustration, take these typical lines:

Count your many blessings
Name them one by one;
And it will surprise you
What the Lord hath done.

Let us oft speak kind words to each other,
At home or where’er we may be.

Poets, dramatists, novelists, frequently let life lessons flower forth in their creations. Oliver Wendell Holmes, for example, after pondering over a broken shell of a chambered nautilus, created a beautiful lyric on its life and growth, and closed with a message for himself and for all of us.

Building thee more stately mansions, O my soul,
As the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low-vaulted past!
Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,
Till thou at length art free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life’s unresting sea!

Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl,” in which the poet pictures a bird winging its solitary way through the sky into the night, closes with these impressive lines:

He who, from zone to zone,
Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight,
In the long way that I must tread alone,
Will lead my steps aright.

Life lessons such as these, which blossom naturally out of songs, stories or plays, are diamond truths in their settings. Our literature is sprinkled with like gems of thought – made the more impressive because they are artistically presented. In harmony with all true teaching, they lead, guide, persuade, but do not “force the human mind.”

Preachers will do well to keep this basic principle, so marvelously exemplified in the life of the Master Teacher, constantly in mind. Our most effective ones do. Indirectly, rather than directly, they present their lessons of life. As with the Savior, they often make the truth walk and talk through a well-told story. Occasionally when conditions demand, they speak with plainness, as did Jesus when he drove the money changers out of the temple, and when he rebuked the scribes and Pharisees. Generally, however, the approach to the hearts and minds is such that folks are stirred with the impulse not merely to be good but to do good.

A few illustrations of what may be called persuasive preaching or teaching are the following:

“I sometimes think that we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity for the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays – let them overtake me unexpectedly – waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: ‘Why, this is Christmas Day.’” – The Friendly Road, David Grayson.

“It is hard for me to see how a great man can be an atheist. Without the sustaining influence of faith in a divine power we could have little faith in ourselves. We need to feel that behind us is intelligence and love.

“Doubters do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create.

“Faith is the great motive power; and no man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important and that his work, well done, is a part of an unending plan.” – Fundamentals of a Successful Life, Calvin Coolidge

“There is no real wealth in gold. People talk about being wealthy – about being rich; but place the richest banking company in the world upon a barren rock, with their gold piled around them, with no possible chance of exchanging it, and destitute of the creature comforts, and they would be poor indeed. …

“Men and women who are trying to make themselves happy in the possession of wealth or power will miss it, for nothing short of the Gospel of the Son of God can make the inhabitants of the earth happy, and prepare them to enjoy heaven here and hereafter.” – Discourses of Brigham Young, pages 473-4, 483.

“Our national welfare should always be a theme deeply rooted in our minds and exemplified in our individual lives, and the desire for our nation’s good should be stronger than political party adherence. The nation’s welfare means the welfare of every one of its citizens. To be a worthy and a prosperous nation, it must possess those qualities which belong to individual virtues. The attitude of our country toward other nations should always be honest and above suspicion, and every good citizen should be jealous of our nation’s reputation both at home and abroad. national patriotism is, therefore, something more than mere expression of willingness to fight, if need be.” – Gospel Doctrine, Joseph F. Smith, page 517.

Latter-day Saints, of all people, should show excellence in didactic literature. Opportunity for such expression is abundantly afforded them. And they will grow in grace and power if they study and practice expressing uplifting thoughts that come to them – not in just commonplace style – but with sincerity, and simple artistry. As a practical suggestion: Appreciate the ideas God gives you by writing them in your own best language; also keep inspirational thoughts others express – a few strikingly effective ones that have impressed you. With such practice and appreciation, skill to write and to speak will grow in you.

Thousands upon thousands of choice sermons, essays, orations have been created and will continue to be created down the years. Again, if time is not to be wasted on the mediocre, we must cultivate a sense of selection. No two of us will choose the same; our backgrounds for appreciation differ; even our moods change. yet, if there is to be an upbuilding of our lives, only that which promotes a love for the good, the beautiful, and the true will claim our time and attention. This does not mean that we shall choose only those selections which plainly are linked with the Bible in word or spirit. Much of our didactic literature, particularly of the essay type, is created largely to inform or entertain. Observe, for example, the following paragraph from one of John Burrough’s nature sketches, The Apple:

“How they resist the cold! holding out almost as long as the red cheeks of the boys do. A frost that destroys the potatoes and other roots only makes the apple more crisp and vigorous; they peep out from the chance November snows unscathed. When I see the fruit vendor on the street corner stamping his feet and beating his hands to keep them warm, and his naked apples lying exposed to the blasts, I wonder if they do not ache to clap their hands and enliven their circulation. But they can stand it nearly as long as the vendor can.”

No mention of the Bible in this apple sketch, yet it brings enjoyment and stirs good memories, as do all well-written and wholesome essays on nature. Literature that takes us out-of-doors, that opens our eyes to the wonder world around us, that lets us travel far and wide, even though we do not leave our firesides to do it – is always helpful, if it is clean and pure. We may get not only information, but interpretation of human folk and also some good fun from such reading.

A classic book of travel that spreads a feast of geography, history, descriptions of nature and human nature for us, with bits of humor thrown in to spice the trip, is Mark twain’s Innocents Abroad. Most folk think of this great writer as merely a humorist. He is all that and more. Observe, for example, these soul-lifting lines from the book just named:

“Night is the time to see Galilee … its history and its associations are its chiefest charm, in any eyes, and the spells they weave are feeble in the searching light of the sun. Then we scarcely feel the fetters. Our thoughts wander constantly to the practical things of life … But when day is done, even the most unimpressionable must yield to the dreamy influences of this tranquil starlight … In the lapping of the waves upon the beach, he hears the dip of ghostly oars; in the secret noises of the night he hears spirit voices; in the soft sweep of the breeze, the rush of invisible wings. Phantom ships are on the sea, the dead of twenty centuries come forth from the tombs, and in the dirges of the night wind the songs of forgotten ages find utterance again.

“In the starlight, Galilee has no boundaries but the broad compass of the heavens, and is a theater meet for great events; meet for the birth of a religion able to save the world; and meet for the stately Figure appointed to stand upon its stage and proclaim its high decrees … One can comprehend it only when night has hidden all incongruities and created a theater proper for so grand a drama.”

With his vivid word pictures, his humorous touches, his sharp shafts at the sham and show and mockeries that bring unholiness to sacred places, the author takes us round the land of Palestine, and leaves us, as he does in the above paragraphs, with deeper appreciation of the inner meaning and significance of storied places round which we linger with him in that Holy Land.

Another selection which brings us closer to the spirit of religion and to the heart of a great American, comes from a treasured book, presented to the writer by President Grant, Abraham Lincoln – Man of God, by John Wesley Hill. In this volume, rich with incidents of Lincoln, is a story told by one of his boyhood friends.

This friend, on invitation, had accompanied Lincoln to the home of a woman who had but a few hours to live. she had requested that her will be made before she passed away. When this was done, she said to Lincoln, “Now I have my affairs in this world arranged satisfactorily. I have also made preparation for the life to come. I do not fear death. I am glad that I am soon to meet those who have gone before.”

“Your faith in God is wise and strong,” said Lincoln. “Your hope of a future life is blessed.”

She then asked him if he would not read a few verses from the Bible. They offered him the Book; he did not take it but began reciting from memory the Twenty-third Psalm. Then he quoted the first part of the fourteenth chapter of John, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you.” After he had given these and other quotations from the scriptures, he recited several hymns, closing with “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me.”

“A little while after the woman passed to her reward,” said the friend. “As we rode home in the buggy, I expressed surprise that he should have acted as pastor as well as attorney so perfectly, and Lincoln replied, ‘God and eternity were very near me today.’”

Discussion and Activities

1. What are the four basic types of literature thus far presented in these studies on “Bible Influence in Our Literature”? Name an example of each type.

2. Why may essays, sermons, orations be classed under the general classification of didactic literature? Name an essay, a sermon, an oration that you treasure.

3. (a) Be ready to quote a memory gem of a line or two which impresses a worthwhile lesson. (b) Be ready also to give some quotation from a leader in the present world conflict which has brought inspiration and courage to folk fighting to preserve our freedom.

4. What book of a religious type, outside the standard works of the Church, has been of constant help and inspiration to you?

5. What folk saying has been handed down as a helpful maxim in your family?

6. What address given during the present world conflict have you saved for your scrapbook of choice literature? Why?

7. (a) What book of essays, dealing with nature, travel, or other subjects, has been a source of information and enjoyment for you? (b) What are you doing to keep some of the choicest essays you find in current literature?

8. (a) What are you doing to cultivate in yourself skill to express your own thoughts? (b) What are you doing to keep the most helpful thoughts of others active in your heart and mind?

Special References

For helpful essays: Adventures in Friendship, by David Grayson; A Watcher in the Woods, by Dallas Lore Sharp; Emerson’s Essays, or any other collection of good essays. Excellent ones may also be found in good school readers.

For uplifting sermons: Discourses of Brigham Young; The Gospel Kingdom, by John Taylor; Gospel Doctrine, by Joseph F. Smith; Gospel Standards, by Heber J. Grant, and other like books by our leaders.

Orations and addresses – many of these may be found in school readers by Americans and others.