(A course for the young women of the Church, 1908-09.)

Ethical Studies: Cultivation of Conscience

(For January 12th, 1909.)

Definition. “I define conscience as that within us which not only perceives what is right in moral motives but also feels that what is right ought to be chosen by the will.” — Rev. Joseph Cook.

A girl was employed as stenographer in the office of a large dry goods firm. One evening, having some extra work, she was later than usual. The office boy was there, too, waiting to post the letters she was addressing. As they worked together the office boy unfolded to the stenographer a plan by which if she would go partners with him, they might make considerable money for themselves by cheating the firm. As she listened the stenographer was shocked that the office boy could plan such a wicked thing. She was indignant that he should come to her with such a proposal, and asked what had made him think she would be partners with him. ”Well,” said the office boy, “you needn’t get so mad about it. You write some of your letters on the firm’s letter paper, and you mail them with the firm’s stamps. I’ve seen you take home calendars that come to the office in the firm’s name. So, of course, I thought seeing you take small things belonging to the company you would be glad to be in on my little scheme.”

But the girl refused. Let us examine this incident and find out what power made the stenographer refuse.

1. — As the office boy unfolded his plan something: within the girl judged whether it would be the right thing to do. That something said, no it would not be right.

2.— With the judgment that it would not be right this something within made the girl feel that she ought not to do it. So she said she would not.

3. — As she walked home that night, and every time she afterwards thought of it, the stenographer was glad she had refused to do what she knew and felt was wrong.

Conscience is that sense or power within an individual that looks at every act she may think of doing, judges whether it would be right or wrong; urges her to choose the right act; and makes her feel happy when she chooses the right.

Conscience is an Inherent Faculty. A conscience is an is inherent part of each human being when born just as the mind is. As soon as a child becomes old enough to understand there are things it ought to do and things it ought not to do the conscience begins its life work. Conscience looks into each intended act before it is done. As the child’s knowledge of right and wrong is, so conscience pronounces judgment that the act would be right or wrong and makes the child feel that the right ought to be chosen. God sent His children upon this earth to gain experience. In living upon the earth they must know good from evil, so He gave to each this power to judge his own acts. In the Prophet Lehi’s last talk with his sons he explained to them these powers of good and evil and said Jo his son Jacob: “And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. [II Nephi 2:5] Wherefore the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. [II Nephi 2: 16.] In order that each individual might act for himself God gave to each a power to judge the act before it was done, so that the individual might choose the good act or the bad act. Because each individual has this power to choose, to act for himself, each person shall be held accountable before God for the deeds done here upon the earth.

Conscience is a Power for Good. In the Church of is Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are instructed that little children are not responsible for their actions. God gives to the parents the commandment to instruct their children in the right. If they are so instructed, by the time they are eight years old their knowledge of right and wrong , will have developed. The power of their conscience to judge their intended actions and urge them to do right, will have so increased, that after baptism at that age, they are held responsible for their acts. One of the big powers of conscience is this feeling that the right ought to be chosen. If the good act, the right act, is chosen and done the power of conscience increases. If the wrong act is chosen and done conscience causes a feeling of remorse or humiliation to be felt. The office boy told the stenographer he had seen her use the firm’s letter paper and stamps. She could not deny it. She thought about what he had said and realized with a feeling of shame that her conscience condemned her for what she had done. She remembered the doubt that had arisen in her mind when she first used that letter paper — she had not felt quite comfortable about it. Conscience had judged her act before it was done but she had not obeyed its promptings. She was very thankful that she had listened to conscience when the office boy told her of his plan to make money — that was, perhaps, a larger thing. But she decided in the future she would obey conscience in the small things then she would be sure to hear it in the large ones.

Conscience in Small Things. Many and varied are the promptings of conscience that come every day to each of us. Here is a girl who was given a lesson to prepare for last week’s Mutual. She came unprepared with the excuse that she had not had time. Perhaps she did not have any extra time. But does she forget the half hour on Thursday when the thought of that lesson came to her and something urged that there were a few minutes to give to it? And that same prompting came on Friday and again on Monday. It was “on her conscience” as we say. She said she had no time to prepare it. But only she knows how she feels inside her heart — the sense of humiliation that is there. She could have done it had she obeyed her conscience.

Conscience in small things is not active in some of us. That is because we have not listened and obeyed its promptings. It has become dulled. Go to any business house where young men and women are employed. Watch how the majority do their work. So many work grudgingly, doing as little as they can each day. Their one thought is to get the money — not to earn it. Such people do not rise to responsibility because they have no inner standard of right — no conscience — by which they guide their actions. A certain group of girls comes to mind. They worked at a factory. They were all girls from our homes. Yet there were some who did as little as they could — but they were paid so much a week — who dawdled the time away. Each night there was work left over — but who cared? With the advent of new machinery the manager introduced a new schedule of wages. Each girl would be paid according to the amount of work done. How the dawdlers had to work to keep abreast of the conscientious girls. Skill and advancement usually come to those who work by the light of an inward standard of right — by their conscience.

One of the promptings of conscience that comes often to us all is in regard to our private prayers. What girl ever forgot her morning or evening prayer and remembered it with peace of mind? These most sacred private acts of ours are matters of conscience with us. Should the morning prayer be neglected some time during the day the sense of shame will overtake us. If we persist in our neglect some one will surely speak upon the subject in a meeting, and lo, rising strong within us comes that condemnation of our conscience which we know and feel even if others are not aware of it. To a sincere and honest heart that voice speaks until it is obeyed, but obedience must not be too long delayed.

In the family relations with father, mother, sisters, and brothers we should try to let our conscience guide us. Each of us should do her share of work. If mother tells us to do something and our conscience lets us know it is right we should obey the feeling that prompts us to do it.

In the family each member has his or her rights. If one sister is careful with her clothes, her room, with all her small belongings, no promoting of conscience would justify another more careless sister in wearing without permission a waist, or hat, or even in taking a handkerchief that belonged to the one who always has things nice because she takes care of them. Many sisters fail to realize the right and wrong in such small things.

If Mary went out three times for pleasure last week and Margaret stayed at home to help mother, this week Mary’s conscience tells her to refuse the invitations she may get and urge mother or Margaret to go out. It is not fair, it is not just, it is not right that Mary should have all the pleasure for the family.

And so it is when Margaret wants a new party dress. Her conscience will tell her whether it is right she should have it. If the new dress for Margaret means that mother will have no winter coat, or will have still to wear a made over dress, then the promptings of conscience ought to be strong enough for Margaret to obey. Obedience to the promptings of conscience brings happiness, Margaret might have enjoyed her new dress, but every time she saw her mother in the old turned gown the thought that she prevented the getting of a new one would sting her.

Cultivation of Conscience. Conscience, we have learned is with us when we are born. It grows in power as we grow in knowledge of good and evil, and as we obey its promptings. But we should not obey it blindly. We should consider its promptings, know why they are right, and then obey them. Conscience may prompt us differently on the same kind of action. Today, because we know no better, conscience might not trouble us if we failed to pay our fare on the street car simply because the conductor passed us by. But think it over carefully. You rode upon the car therefore you should pay your fare. When, after careful considering the act, conscience and your knowledge of right say you should pay that fare, you can never after- wards leave a car without paying. Through ignorance, or insufficient knowledge, conscience may give an incorrect prompting:, but knowledge and thoughtful consideration bring the right one.

Value of a Tender Conscience. Thoughtful consideration of the promptings of conscience, and obedience to it keeps it sensitive. A sensitive conscience is a tender conscience. One value is that it is quick in its approval or disapproval of our intended actions. Another is that it is the power that decides for us the many questions that concern us personally when there is no one else near to advise us. Conscience decides our course of action and urges that we do what is right. Conscience is the voice that disapproves if we say unkind things of our friends. It urges us to make good use of our study time. It gives approval of our play when duty is done. Friends may misjudge us but if our line of conduct has the approval of that power within in self-respect we can stand up under the misjudgement feeling that we have the approval of God.

The Mighty Power of Conscience. Perhaps no better illustration of the power of conscience over individual action can be found than its effect on our young men when the call for a mission comes to them. Upon the vast majority the effect is the same: conscience says it is the right thine: to do. Conscience urges them to go. Conscience causes them to feel happy if they decide to do. So strong is the feeling of right and urging to obey, that want of means, sickness in the family, the possibility of future failure in business, all are weighed against the feeling — and still it is strong enough to make nine-tenths of them go. And to the few who do not obey its voice conscience meets out an oft recurring sense of humiliation and unhappiness.

An incident from the life of Pres. John Taylor illustrates this power of conscience: He and his wife and little family had come to join the Saints in Montrose. The times were troublous and the Saints were often in danger of mob violence. Sister Taylor was ill, the children very little, and their only shelter one room in a miserable log: house. But the call had come for Brother Taylor to go to England. Facing these many unfavorable conditions, weighing them against the urging of his conscience that he ought to go. Brother Taylor dedicated his family to the care of the Lord, obeyed his conscience, and trusted God for the outcome. In its greatest development and power obedience to conscience brings the approval and peace of God. Recall the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. These were his words as he left for Carthage jail : “I go like a lamb to the slaughter. I am calm as a summer’s morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and man.”

QUESTIONS.

1. What is conscience? (See Dictionary.)

2. Relate the incident of the stenographer and the office boy.

3. As she listened to the office boy what first prompting came from conscience to the stenographer?

4. What was the second prompting?

5. What effect did obedience to her conscience have on the stenographer?

6. Is each individual born with a conscience?

7. How does the conscience begin to work?

8. Why did God give to everyone a conscience?

9. How does conscience help one to be good?

10. What is the result if we disobey the promptings of conscience?

11. How does conscience help us get our lessons?

12. What docs it mean when people say. she has no conscience in her work?

13. What does the voice of conscience say if we neglect our private prayers? If we wear without permission a sister’s gloves, or waist, or hat?

14. If Margaret wants a new party dress how can she tell whether she ought to get it?

15. How may conscience be cultivated?

16. What is a tender conscience?

17. Of what value is a tender conscience?

18. Illustrate the mighty power of conscience over individual action.

(Class leaders are at liberty to use other illustrations than those given in the lesson.)