Folklore: An Excuse to Fiddle and Dance

Subject: Folklore: An Excuse to Fiddle and Dance
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 08:43 PM

Excerpt from speech by Brigham Young, March 4, 1852, leader of the Latter Day Saints, on the occasion of the Legislative Festival.

"But I pause here, and for this reason- I want it distinctly understood that fiddling and dancing are no part of our worship. The question may be asked, "What are they for, then?" I answer, that my body may keep pace with my mind. My mind labors like a man logging, all the time; and this is the reason why I am fond of these pastimes- they give me a privilege to throw every thing off, and shake myself, that my body may exercise, and my mind rest. What for? To get strength, and be renewed and quickened and enlivened, and animated, so that my mind may not wear out. Experience tells us that the most of the inhabitants of the earth wear out their bodies without wearing their minds at all, through the sufferings they endure from hard labor, with distress, poverty and want. While on the other hand, a great portion of mankind wear out their bodies without laboring, only in anxiety. But when men are brought to labor entirely in the field of intelligence, there are few minds to be found possessing strength enough to bear all things; the mind becomes overcharged, and when this is the case, it begins to wear upon the body, which will sink for want of the proper exercises. This is the reason why I believe in and practice what I do."

Journal of Discourses, vol. 1 (on line).

Subject: RE: Folklore: An Excuse to Fiddle and Dance
From: Jim Krause
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 10:57 PM

Sounds good to me!


Jim Krause

Subject: RE: Folklore: An Excuse to Fiddle and Dance
From: michaelr
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 12:42 AM

I know some present-day Mormons who don't allow TV in their home. (Come to think of it, that's not all that crazy...) I wonder what they think of fidling and dancing?