said, 'How many children have you?' 'Seventeen,' she replied, 'but we have never been blessed with any children of our own.' I said, 'Sister, will you please make this more clear to me?' and this is the substance of that good woman's reply. 'We have never had any children of our own. We took four babies, three girls and one boy when they were twenty-four hours to six days old, adopted and reared them. The boy filled a mission. We reared a little girl of seven; she is adopted to us. She has filled a mission. We emigrated from Germany two boys and their sister. The boys stayed with us ten years, the girl till she was married. One of the boys filled a mission; we helped him to fill it. For five years we cared for three little boys whose ages ranged from five to seven

How can any hunger for children remain unsatisfied so long as there

I. The Image of God.
II. The Incomplete Image.

are so many children in the world starving for love and care?

1. Voluntary spinsterhood. a. Caused by being a "flirt." b. Different religious faith. 2. Involuntary spinsterhood.

a. The death of one's sweetheart.

b. The responsibility of dependent family.

c. No congenial offer.

3. The Hope of Eternity.

Those who are childless through no fault of their own have the glorious promise of parenthood in the next world, if they have been true and faithful during this life.

"Liahona, Aug. 16th, 1921, p. 75.

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the great purpose of marriage and why is this so?

2. Is there any excuse for young people to marry if they do not want to have children?

new

3. (a) Tell all that you can regarding sciences of Eugenics and Euthenics. (b) Is there any interest in these subjects in your schools and how can you encourage it?

4. (a) What is the average number of children in the families of your acquaintances? (b) Are the mothers of the present day doing their full duty in regard to motherhood as nobly as did their mothers and grandmothers? Why?

5. What do you think about the habit of eating candy between meals and what are you going to do about it?

6. Do you love your body as you should, and are you living so that you may keep it strong and pure? Why?

7. (a) Who is your ideal mother and why? (b) What are you doing that you may be like her?

III. The Ultimate Destiny. 1. The justice of God. 2. Readjustments.

IV. Duty of the Unmarried. 1. Life occupation.

a. Love of home.

b. Love of children.

2. Social betterment of world.

1. The Image of God.

That man and woman should always stand together is proved by ancient and modern scripture. We are

whom one would not be willing to marry should one's impulses lead in that direction. This is not a narrow view to take for while we cannot and should not try to seclude ourselves from "the world" yet it is not necessary to be on the most intimate terms with any but a chosen few. Man has a right to choose his friends. Christ associated with unbelievers but he did not make intimate associates of them. The reward of life congeniality will be well worth any apparent sacrifice.

2. Involuntary Spinsterhood.

That one should be forced through uncontrollable circumstances to lead a life of "single blessedness," seems a great injustice. There are many reasons for this condition, some that are justifiable and some that seem most unjust.

a. The death of one's sweetheart may be a justified cause for failure to marry. In that case one must be sure that the deceased is one's true mate then the passage of time does not seem so interminable.

b. The responsibility for a depend.

ent father or mother or for the raising and training of young brothers and sisters may be a sufficient cause to justify one in refraining from marriage. In these cases one must be one's own judge entirely. Certainly such unselfishness will not go unrewarded.

c. The most frequent cause of involuntary spinsterhood is that one does not receive a congenial offer of marriage. Again one must be one's own judge in such matters. Some people are so constituted that they can take a second or third choice and make the best of it even if it isn't the perfect state of their girlish dreams. In such cases the securing of a home and the possibility of the priceless gift of motherhood makes

any sacrifice seem worth while. There are other dispositions that are so positive that daily happiness could never result unless one is truly and deeply in love. One takes a very grave risk in marrying without the perfect love that should unite husband and wife. The grind of daily cares and annoyances needs the poise and adjustment of continual love and perfect understanding in order to secure the atmosphere of love and joy in the home. And this living home atmosphere is the birth right of every child born into the world. If he doesn't have it he is cheated of something for which no amount of wealth or one-sided attachment can atone. Prayer alone can guide one in making such decisions.

III. The Ultimate Destiny.

Those who refrain from marriage for any good cause have much to do in life and if they live right have a promise of a glorious reward in the future life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed through Joseph Smith teaches that justice and happiness will come to every worthy

soul.

1. The Justice of God.

It is a great comfort to know that if one is willing to obey a law but has no chance to do so that one will be accounted worthy of sharing the blessings of obedience. No one can question the justice of our Father in Heaven and in this respect one may be assured of an ultimate joyous adjustment.

2. Readjustments.

As has been stated before, marriage is a ceremony pertaining to this earth and while the association of men and women will continue throughout eternity the ceremony uniting them must be performed here. If some unpreventable cause has operated to sep

arate on this earth those who belong to each other, and if the ceremony has been performed here, then readjustments will be made on the other side so that they who belong to each other will be united throughout eternity. Oh, the comfort of this knowledge and the joy of this promise! One can endure imperfection if necessary for time if one can be assured that perfect joy may be enjoyed in eternity. A mate will one day be found for every righteous woman.

IV. Duty of the Unmarried.

There is much work in the world to be done by those who are not so closely bound by the ties of home and family. Ruskin tells us that "Pleasure comes through toil and not by self-indulgence and indolence. When one gets to love work, his life is a happy one." So there is much happiness in store for all who will to find it.

The first duty of the unmarried, then is to take their active place in society. If a life job is not cut out for one and found waiting then one must hustle and find it.

1. Life Occupation.

The world today is more friendly to women than it has ever been before. Every woman (as well as every man) should have a life workone for which she is fitted and which she loves better than any other. If a woman can't have the one she likes best then the simple part of wisdom is to find one that she likes next best. And into that second-choice

job she should pour all the pent up zest she would like to give to the

work she likes best. If that is done, she will be sure to make a success of her life.

a. The love of home and the desire to make a home is the wish of every normal woman. There is no reason why every woman cannot make a

home-if it is only a tent or a one room apartment. She can have the "home atmosphere" there if she so chooses. She may also have the chance to make a home (in the real sense) for father or mother or brother or sister. "Home is where the heart is," we are told, and if that be true every woman may have a home

though it be not the perfect one of her dreams. There are times when one must learn to be satisfied with a half loaf of bread or go hungryand a half loaf is far better than no bread at all.

Any effort put forth by the girl in learning to be a good home maker, therefore, can all be used, for where of making a home. ever she is she may have the privilege

b. The love of children is also innate in the breast of every normal woman. The same philosophy of the half-loaf holds in this respect. If a woman has no children of her own "to mother" let her look around-she will not have to look far-and find some child that is starving "to be mothered." The process of mothering includes very many acts aside life, and these can often be perfrom the one of giving the breath of formed just as well by one who may not be bound by the ties of kindred.

Some young women have wished for motherhood and mourned its absence so sincerely that they have adopted one or more children with the most gratifying results.

With the world in the condition it is today no mother-heart should long be unsatisfied! long be unsatisfied!

2. Active in Social Betterment of World.

The cares of raising a family are so many and so taxing that the entire attention of the mother is required while the children are young. It is entirely fitting that much of the so