Monday, February 15, 2010

Things I hope you will teach my grandchildren

I have been reading the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. It was free on Kindle. He expressed very well in his philosophy of life a concept that I have always thought if understood and applied would do more to induce people (especially the youth who are more likely to chafe and rebel at being restricted) than almost any other to keep the commandments.

"In this piece it was my design to explain and enforce this doctrine; that vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful, the nature of man alone considered; that it was, therefore, every one’s interest to be virtuous who wish’d to be happy even in this world; and I should, from this circumstance (there being always in the world a number of rich merchants, nobility, states, and princes, who have need of honest instruments for the management of their affairs, and such being so rare), have endeavored to convince young persons that no qualities were so likely to make a poor man’s fortune as those of probity and integrity.”


It is interesting that the style of writing is reminiscent of the Book of Mormon. The long complex sentences being one of the things that make it difficult to read. This was written in the mid to late 1700s not many years before Joseph Smith was born and the prevailing style of writing was probably very similar in Joseph Smiths day.

4 comments:

Austin's Mommy said...

Interesting and well put.

Barbara said...

Very interesting, and true. I find the style challenging but kind of fun to figure out and very satisfying once you do finally get it.

Lynda/Mom said...

Yes, long sentences!! Interesting comparison with the Book of Mormon style--so do you think it (B of M) was written in that style because it was in use in the day of Joseph Smith, or because it was in use at the time it (B of M) was written? Or both? I know you don't know, but it popped into my mind so I asked it anyway.

Grandpa Lawrence said...

I think it was probably because it was in use in Joseph Smith's day. The way I understand it, he received the ideas in his mind then expressed them in his language.