This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter xi the ethics of mormonism The laboratory for ethical study is the field of human history in all of its aspects--political, economic, and religious. The unit is the social group in the process of its evolution. All forms of social control, whether in the nature of sentiments, customs, laws, or divine commandments, have _their origin in active social life. In the development of moral standards every human instinct, every interest, every problem which has concerned the community, whether inherited from the past or imposed by the environment, has had its effect. The meaning and significance of moral standards can be ascertained only by a study of their origin and function in a concrete, active social process. The life-history of the Mormon group furnishes suitable material for such a study. In the first place the group has developed in almost complete isolation. This makes the task of singling out the factors which have determined its moral standards relatively easy.' In the second place the Mormon group has been subjected to very frequent and radical changes in its environment. These conditions have occasioned readjustments which are significant not only from the social and psychological but from the ethical point of view. A transition from one social stage to another reveals certain aspects and principles in human life which would not be noticed under less active social conditions. ' And, thirdly, we have here the complete life-history of a group. We are thus able to view the moral standards in relation to their origin, their function, and their termination. The moral concepts in Mormonism have developed out of vital group experiences. Thus to give a satisfactory account of them we must consider them in relation to the three great...