Apparently, both NDBF Gary and NFlanders have forgotten playing cards at all is evil because face cards are satanic. President Joseph F. Smith has given this wholesome advice:
While a simple game of cards in itself may be harmless, it is a fact that by immoderate repetition it ends in an infatuation for chance schemes, in habits of excess, in waste of precious time, in dulling and stupor of the mind, and in the complete destruction of religious feeling. These are serious results, evils that should and must be avoided by the Latter-day Saints. Then again, there is a grave danger that lurks in persistent card playing, which begets the spirit of gambling, of speculation and what awakens the dangerous desire to get something for nothing.
Card playing is an excessive pleasure; it is intoxicating, and therefore, in the nature of a vice. It is naturally the companion of the cigaret and the wine glass, and the latter leads to the poolroom and the gambling hall. Few men and women indulge in the dangerous pastime of the card table without compromising their business affairs and the higher responsibilities of life. Tell me what amusements you like best and whether your amusements have been a ruling passion in your life, and I will tell you what you are. Few indulge frequently in card playing in whose lives it does not become a ruling passion.
Close quote, from Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, v. 1, p. 194.
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Response to Jodi Stoddard
5 comments
This actually seems to be more about the culture at the time, and gambling or similar card games, and not about the cards themselves . . . .
Is there a quote anywhere about "face cards" being bad, of themselves?
Course, there's always the various theme substitues, like Looney Tunes playing cards, et. al, with the same suits, but the characters are on the cards. I suppose one could play Poker with Bugs Bunny and friends, and if a disagreement occurred I can just hear, "Rabbit season . . . Duck season . . . " breaking.
Um, ok, so I try too hard to be funny. Still, one could gamble with anything, and there's so many alternate, character or say Country Music singer versions or the like of playing cards, that one wonders. Not that often, it's not like I stay up nights over it . . .
Hee! "My Road Runner beats your Wile E. Coyote . . . ALWAYS!" (Insert falling anvil sound HERE!)
that's, "breaking OUT".
Rumor has it Bunko will be banned church-wide at the next General Conference.
Oh the memories of Friday night mission poker, molaroffs (cookie eating contests) and other harmless frat stuff, Bordeaux circa 1978, more motivational than any zone conference. Do Sister missionaries in tough missions do analogous sorority stuff?
We are putting several decks of cards in our 72 hour kit, as well as a carton of cigarettes, good ones (I recommend Camels or Marlboro).
The cigarettes are good for trading and the cards are good for monotony.
My husband doesn't like it, but I bet he's really really glad when I can buy stuff with those cigarettes.
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