Our Profanity – Sunday, April 04, 1943
There is a prevalent practice among us which we would like to ignore, but which, perhaps, should be brought into the open, and freely commented upon. We have reference to the use of all manner of offensive language—but more especially to that language which profanes the name of Deity. There was a day when the uttering of strong and violent oaths and the use of profanity was associated with low places—but somehow or other it seems to have over-run the confines of the back street, until one may hear it sometimes in the most unexpected places and from the most unexpected people.
Frequently those who use it are merely careless; some are self-consciously blase; others are defiantly offensive; and sometimes this manner of language is heard from those who really want to give strength to what they are saying and use this mistaken means of doing it. But whenever a man feels called upon to use profanity in order to emphasize his words, one rather suspects that somehow he lacks conviction, that his words are lacking an inherent sincerity, which lack he is trying to cover up by the use of an overdose of bad language—like trying to hide a bad flavor with heavy seasoning.
The free use of profanity and oaths, aside from its religious and moral aspects, does more perhaps to weaken our language than any other practice. The English tongue is a powerful toot if a man will only use it with direct simplicity and not attempt to blast his way through it with obscene or irreverent or profane speech. But if he accompanies virtually everything he says with an oath, he has then dissipated his strength of expression, and when be really wants to impress someone with the gravity or importance of an utterance, he has no adequate verbal ammunition left. And while it may seem paradoxical to say so, it is even possible that an army could be run without profanity. Nor would it seem consistent that we should pray for divine favor, for deliverance, for the preservation of the lives of ourselves and our young men, for the victory of our cause, and for peace, and then go about profaning the name of that God whom we have supplicated for these things. “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.” “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” Would that all men would cease this thoughtless and offensive practice.
By Richard L. Evans, spoken from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 4, 1943, over Radio Station KSL and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System. Copyright – 1943.
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April 04, 1943
Broadcast Number 0,711