Retreat from Disordered Scenes – Sunday, July 28, 1940
Taking both the spirit and the word of its message from the Prophets of ancient and modern times, B. Cecil Gates, former assistant conductor of the Tabernacle choir, and gifted composer of sacred music, has given us the anthem “My Redeemer Lives.” While it refers to a yet more recent occurrence, it reminds us of the language of Job: “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)
These days of oppressive news and precipitate happenings, disturb the tranquility and shake the confidence of most of us to a greater or lesser extent. Many are distressed; others are merely perplexed; some are acutely fearful. As a tonic for all these, take a few days away from crowded ways of life on the water, in the forest, to the high places of the mountains or wherever choice and convenience suggest. Forget that newspapers are published. Shun the screaming o the headlines. Ignore the pulse of the stock market. Forget for the moment that this marvelous and disturbing thing called “Radio” devotes time to the world’s news. Avoid the man who looks like he is bursting to tell you the latest catastrophe. Literally sever contact with the throb of the more or less civilized world. In a few hours, perhaps; or at most in a few days, you will realize with the force of a revelation what it is that disturbs the tranquility of life. You will find that you have no quarrel with nature, that you cherish all its moods in their times and seasons. And if you keep your isolation you will care less and know still less what is going on in far places and you will quickly realize that the troubles of the world are made by man, circulated by man, exaggerated by man and given epidemic force by man. Such a quiet sojourn into temporary retreat leads us to the conclusion that if we could live compatibly with our own kind, all other problems would solve themselves in due course. The conquest of nature and the wrestling of secrets from the unknown would give ample outlet for our conquering instincts and surplus energies without playing a perennial game of seizure from man to man or nation to nation. Such are the thoughts that come when one goes quietly away from the disordered scenes of these times. Of course, if one has a troubled conscience, conscience goes with him. Nor is the tonic one of permanent cure. We cannot long remain hermits. We must come back to face the issues of life. But at least a temporary retreat from the din of the day helps us to find ourselves and renew a right spirit within us, and we can say, fervently, with a prophet of modern times: “If ye have slept in peace blessed are you.” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:15)
July 28, 1940
Broadcast Number 0,571