By President Joseph F. Smith (President of the Church)
"Among the Latter-day Saints, the preaching of false doctrines disguised as truths of the gospel, may be expected from people of two classes, and practically from these only; they are:
"First - The hopelessly ignorant, whose lack of intelligence is due to their indolence and sloth, who make but feeble effort, if indeed any at all, to better themselves by reading and study; those who are afflicted with a dread disease that may develop into an incurable malady - laziness.
"Second - The proud and self-vaunting ones, who read by the lamp of their own conceit; who interpret by rules of their own contriving; who have become a law unto themselves, and so pose as the sole judges of their own doings. More dangerously ignorant then the first.
"Beware of the lazy and the proud; their infection in each case is contagious; better for them and for all when they are compelled to display the yellow flag of warning, that the clean and uninfected may be protected."
(Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 373)
News for the Family
THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES
You look at trees every day, but do you know why they're so important?
Although trees have been admired for their beauty for thousands of years, their importance is often taken for granted. Trees have always provided us with lumber for houses, furniture, tools, paper, and fuel. They produce all the fruit and most of the nuts that we eat. Olive oil, maple syrup, etc., and many spices come from trees. And these remarkable plants supply us with cork, rubber, turpentine, gums, resins, dyes, and even medicines.
Trees also help us to breathe because they utilize the carbon dioxide that we exhale and produce the oxygen that we need. They absorb much of the dust in the atmosphere and filter toxic pollutants. Trees also reduce noise pollution, act as wind buffers, provide privacy, and give us lots of cool shade. When they decompose, tree leaves add richness to the soil, and that soil is held in place by the roots of trees. In addition to all these gifts, trees also give shelter to many forms of wildlife.
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