Eternal and Temporal Values

The opening remarks of the President at this conference were very inspiring and gave promise of a rich outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord upon the people. It has been so -- a time of peace, a time of instruction, of thanksgiving and praise and of pure joy. ¶

Eternal and Temporal Values

I would like to say a few words this morning, my brethren and sisters, upon the subject of investments, and I will take for my text the saying of a noted writer to this effect: "Always distinguish between what is of eternal value, and of what is a mere temporal ease." This is a significant remark. It is worthy of the profoundest consideration. There are many things with which we come in contact, many things of importance, but there are some things that are more important than others. ¶

This is the land of Zion in which we dwell. It is a blessed land, it is a fruitful land. The soil readily responds to the industry of the farmer, and by his toil means come into his possession. The wages of the laboring man today are very good. He gets a splendid reward for his efforts and thereby means come into his hands. It is true, that we are confronted with high cost of living, but notwithstanding this, with many of our people, perhaps hundreds and hundreds of them, there is a surplus, and, I believe, as remarked by Brother Stephen L. Richards, that with this surplus there comes the responsibility of trusteeship. The means that come into our hands are a ¶

direct blessing from the Lord and he expects us to expend them wisely and well and to be very careful in our management of affairs. I think that the Lord particularly expects us as a people to avoid debt. A man who is weighed down by a burden of debt might just as well be in prison, because it is to him a constant worry and anxiety. ¶

One of the first considerations that devolves upon us is to get out of debt. The Latter-day Saints should heed this counsel, for it is counsel that comes to us from time to time from the leaders of the Church. ¶

The mercantile world, the oil business, the mining fields, offer opportunity for investment of our surplus; but, brethren and sisters, the very greatest wisdom and judgment should be exercised in the matter of investment. And when it comes to mining stocks it needs only to be said that this is a very risky business, and so the Latter-day Saints should be wise and prudent and not rush hastily into enterprises that spring up on every side. There is danger in it. Sometimes offerings come to us from a distance, some great undertaking that reads well on paper, the prospectus of which is very fine. It is inspiring, it is enticing. Wonderful things, it is announced, will be accomplished if we will only put our money into it, and yet possibly we do not know a mortal thing about the people who are connected with the enterprise. Who is the president? Oh, well, we don't know. We have never seen him. Who are the directors in the company? Oh, well, we don't know, but just look at the prospectus, see what it says. Isn't that sufficient? No, I say it is not. It is not sufficient at all. People ought not to go into those things without knowing something of the character of the people who are behind them. Now this is true also of enterprises abroad in the world that come to us. It is true, likewise, of enterprises at home, even right here in Zion. When investments are offered they should be subjected to the greatest scrutiny and careful investigation. We want to know, should know who is behind them. What is the character of the man who stands at the head? What is the character of the men who make up the board of directors, and who administer the affairs of the company? Are they safe men, are they strong men, reliable people of the community? Well, if they are, then the risk is not so great, of course, and so, I think that it would be much safer for the Latter-day Saints generally to invest their means at home in enterprises that have originated among us, in enterprises that have been and are successful in which the stock is paying good returns. It is the results that we want. And that reminds me of a story. ¶

One man said to another: "What is Professor Jones doing now?" ¶

"Oh, well, he is trying to decipher a Babylonian tablet." ¶

"Are there any results?" ¶

"Yes, his wife is down with nervous prostration, and he has sent his children to relatives." ¶

Very definite results. And so, when we come to invest our means, we want results, we want good results. A successful man from a worldly standpoint is a man who makes' good investments. An un- ¶

successful man is a man who makes unsuccessful investments and the results are poor and bring trouble and anxiety to him. Now, these things are very important. We have to deal with them. We must accumulate means for we have certain obligations that rest upon us, the support of our families, the education of our children, the maintainence of our homes. The man who will not provide for his family, the Apostle said, is worse than an infidel, and so these obligations devolve upon us. ¶

An Investment of Eternal Value

But the thing that I have been emphasizing might be regarded as something pertaining to a mere temporal ease. Let us pause for a moment, let us reflect upon some investments that have an eternal value. What think you of tithing as an investment? "Why, Brother Clawson," says someone in surprise, "you don't pretend to say that the paying of tithing into the Church is an investment. When a man puts his money into the hands of the Lord's bishop, or into the bishop's storehouse, and he doesn't get any apparent dividend from it, why, you don't call that an investment?" ¶

Yes, that is an investment of an eternal nature. ¶

"Oh, I think you are mistaken, Brother Clawson, about that. You know tithing pertains to temporal things and is a temporal law and there is nothing eternal connected with it." ¶

Oh, yes, I think there is a spiritual value connected with tithing and it is made very apparent, in the revelation upon that subject. The question arises, what is tithing for? We speak of it, we emphasize it in our conferences, we urge the people to remember the law and to honor it. Now what is it for? We are not left in the dark regarding this matter. The Lord has made it clear. He gave the law. No man is responsible for it. The prophet of the Church, the president, is not responsible for this word from the Lord. "Tithing is for the building of mine house," says the Lord, "and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood and for the debts of the presidency of my Church." That is what it is for, and that has an eternal significance and fixed value, and I look upon it as a splendid investment. Is it not a privilege, is it not an opportunity to assist in the laying of the foundation of Zion? That is what we have been doing for ninety years. Nearly a hundred years we have been laying the foundation of Zion. Is it laid yet, is it fully laid, thoroughly laid? I would not say it. I do not know, I think it will require all of a hundred years and more to lay the foundation, because upon it we are building the Church and Kingdom of God, which is never to be thrown down, and the work will never be given to other people. That is the kind of a foundation we must lay. You have had a hand in it, I have had part in it; that is, if we have observed this law and other duties and obligations. Oh, it is a blessed thing. I think it will pay a good dividend. ¶

"And for the building of mine house" -- here on this block is one house of the Lord and other temples are being erected in which great ¶

spiritual blessings will come to the Latter-day Saints, largely through the paying of their tithing and obligations. ¶

Now, I will tell you, we could not build a house of God without means and yet, when it is accomplished, the building itself is of least importance, all the means that went into it is of the least importance. It is the ordinances of the house that are of eternal value. And then again the law of tithing speaks of the Priesthood. There is an investment for you of real worth, of most vital significance, the authority and power of the Priesthood. Could any man make a better investment than to secure the Priesthood? "Yes, but Brother Clawson, can he buy this blessing?" No, no, he can not. "Well, how can he invest if he has no money to put into it?" You can't get in that way. It is an investment that comes in a different form entirely. Well, what is required? Only faithfulness, a faithful life, devotion to the cause of God, obedience to his word, honoring his servants, and doing your duty, and that will entitle you to have a share in this great investment that is open to all the men of the Church from the least to the greatest. ¶

"And the debts of the Presidency of my Church." I do not take that to mean that the tithing is to be used for the personal obligations and debts of the leading men of the Church or the Presidency. You notice how this reads: "Of the debts of the Presidency of my Church." It means the obligations entered into for the Church by the Presidency. ¶

The Word of Wisdom as an Eternal Investment

What think you, brethren and sisters, of the Word of Wisdom as an investment? "Surely it is not an investment, is it?" Oh, yes; one of the brethren at this conference has emphasized the Word of Wisdom by saying that it might be regarded as the law of health, the great law of health. Well, is not that an investment worthy of our consideration? If we can go into anything, brethren and sisters, that will bring good health, that is the very best kind of a dividend there is. And what could we do? I submit to you, what could this people do, how much could they accomplish of this mighty work without good health? Well, now, as a people we are healthy. There may be exceptions to the rule, but we are entitled to the special blessings of the Lord in this respect if we observe his great law. "Yes," but someone says, "you are emphasizing, my brother, investments of an eternal character. The Word of Wisdom, remember, is a temporal law and does not have anything particularly to do with eternal things." Well, I think, my brother, that you are slightly mistaken in that view. I grant you that the Word of Wisdom has a temporal side to it. It pertains largely to temporal things, to our physical health, the condition of our bodies and so on. But there is also a spiritual side to the Word of Wisdom which possibly is more important than the temporal, for the Lord said that all Saints who remember to keep and do these sayings of the Word of Wisdom, walking in obedience to the commandments, "shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones." There is the temporal blessing and it is important and vital. ¶

"And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures." And there is the spiritual side to the Word of Wisdom. And these great treasures of knowledge will help us in this world and will follow us into the world to come and are of an eternal nature. We also have the promise that the destroying angel shall pass us by and not slay us. That does not mean, that no one among the Saints shall die and pass away. We are under the great edict of life, that is, sooner or later, we must lay down our bodies and pass into the spirit world, and the change will come to all of us; but the promise is made, nevertheless, and the Lord will have respect for his people. He will bless them and he will preserve them and carry them along until they shall have fulfilled the measure of their creation and accomplished their work, if they will observe to keep and do these sayings and render obedience to his law. ¶

Marriage an Eternal Investment

What think you, brethren and sisters, of marriage as an investment? One of the most important steps that a man or woman can take in the world. There are two kinds of marriage. One is rather a poor investment, that is, it is not as good as the other. There is marriage for time; there is marriage for time and all eternity. Here is the choice of two investments to every young man and to every young woman in the Church. Which will you have? That which is of eternal value or the thing that is of mere temporal ease? So I repeat, always distinguish between what is of eternal value and what is of a mere temporal ease." ¶

The Lord bless us and help us to make the proper choice and to do the right thing; always to give ear to the voice of counsel, and walk in the way of life, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶