On Profanity – Sunday, May 18, 1952
Somehow or other it seems that the use of language which profanes the name of Deity, has become a most flagrantly casual custom, until one may hear it sometimes in the most unexpected places and from the most unexpected people.
Some of those who permit themselves profane utterance may be merely careless or thoughtless; some seem to be self-consciously affecting an air of sophistication; some seem defiantly offensive.
Sometimes offensive oaths and profane utterances are used by people who may sincerely feel that they are adding strength and force and firmness to their words. But whenever a person feels that he must employ profanity to add weight to his words, one rather suspects that there is some inherent weakness in his words, which fact he is trying to cover up by the use of an overdose of bad language—like trying to kill the offensive flavor of unsavory food with a suspiciously heavy covering of condiments. A simple truth does not need the bolstering of bad language.
A simple truth simply needs accurate and sincere utterance. And aside from religious and moral considerations, the common use of profanity and oaths does much to weaken our words. Our tongue is a powerful tool if we will use it with direct and earnest simplicity and not attempt to blast our way through our ideas with profane and irreverent utterance.
At best, profanity is in bad taste; at worst, it is a grave offense. And scarcely would it seem consistent that we should pray for divine favor for the protection of our loved ones, for the preservation of our lives, for peace, for health and happiness, and for our daily needs, and then go about profaning the name of Him whom we have asked for help.
There is still this commandment for the keeping of which we are still accountable: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not bold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”1 “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”2*
*Revised
1Deuteronomy 5:11
2Matthew 6:9
“The Spoken Word,” heard over Radio Station K S L and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System, from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, May 18, 1952, 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., Eastern Time. Copyright, 1952
__________________________________________
May 18, 1952
Broadcast Number 1,187