I Am Sure All Were Deeply Impressed By...

I am sure all were deeply impressed by Brother Stover's report and by President Clark's comment thereon. ¶

If I were not afraid of embarrassing Brother Stover, I would like to tell you something of what he did, this generous-hearted man, over among those poor and discouraged people, to bring them something more of hope for the future. I happened to be there during his administration. I became very much aware of the sinister influences which he has described. I remember riding through Berlin from the Western Zone into the Communistic Eastern Zone, and it was just as if you had passed over into a forbidden territory. The ominous feeling, the depression, the looks on the faces of the people, the ragged and hopeless condition, was a sight most forbidding to behold. Brother Stover stepped into that situation, and out of the generosity of his big heart, he reached in his pocket and helped many a poor person; and in addition thereto, he provided them with facilities through which they were able to gather, to resume their activities in the Church, and he held out to them such a prospect for the future that I am sure many were taken out of despondency and elevated to hope and encouragement. And I take the liberty of paying tribute to him tonight for that which he did for those distressed people. ¶

It would be well if we could all be aroused by circumstances brought to our attention into a state of alertness to the dangers and the situations confronting us. I believe, my brethren, that it is well for every one of us to consider that he has a definite personal responsibility to do his full duty in the Church, in the government to which we belong, in order to forestall some of these calamities that look to be in the offing. ¶

Now I see certain prospects ahead that may not be too fortuitous. I wish I could say a word that would save a man from bankruptcy. Years ago I used to practice law. I have taken men through bankruptcy. I have seen some of the tragedy of it. I have had doctors tell me that men have died for causes no other than financial worries occasioned by reverses; and to a red-blooded man, who has pride in his good name, few things are more disastrous to him than to fall into a condition where he cannot pay his creditors and keep his name good. ¶

We do not know just what the future will hold for us. We learn that there is great income for the people, the largest, I suppose, that it has ever been in history, figured at least in terms of our inflated currency; and we learn that debts have assumed gigantic proportions. I have said in your presence before that there is only one thing that I know of for which this inflated dollar will buy 100% worth of its par value, and that is in paying debts. There is no discount when it comes to paying debts with this inflated dollar, and I am persuaded, my brethren, that all will do well, if any is in a position where his debts may come to embarrass him, to see that they are reduced and liquidated, so that he may be saved the hard circumstances that may come to him when it will be more difficult to pay. ¶

We might have a deflated currency sometime. Well, if we have a deflated currency, and the dollar reverts to 100% purchasing power, you will pay that good solid dollar to discharge debts incurred under inflated dollars, and it may be a hard thing to do. You farmers will realize it may take two bushels of grain, instead of one, to liquidate the obligations. Now, I have never seen a man go broke who was not in debt. Have you? So I think that the caution is to be careful of our indebtedness. ¶

Really, the great portion of our indebtedness that is hazardous to us arises from overextension. Way back in the days of the depression when many banks were closed, I was sent on a financial mission. I visited the banks of southern Utah, most of them, and some of the banks of Idaho and I talked with the cashiers and other operating executives. ¶

Some of them were good enough to bring out their portfolios, and in nearly all instances that I was able to observe, I discovered that embarrassment came to men because of overextension of credit. ¶

They thought that they could make some more money by incurring more debt, and the bottom fell out before they realized on the good prospects that they thought they had, and many were embarrassed, — hundreds were embarrassed, and some men who had been in good standing before were financially wiped out. And the books of some of these banks today bear record of these old obligations. ¶

I believe we will do well to bear these items in mind, and within our own power do all that we can to get ourselves into as safe a position as it is possible for us to do. I recognize the fact that sometimes it is deemed necessary and desirable to undertake some obligations in order to get a home for our families, perhaps in order to get some kind of a business in which, we can work, but there is a difference between getting that which is absolutely necessary for the support of ourselves and our families, and extending and extending trying in an acquisitive spirit to get so much that we hazard our financial security. ¶

The good counsel that has come from the Church all these years is pertinent today, and I believe that those who study the situations most carefully would sanction that kind of counsel. ¶

You older men have been through some of the experiences of the past. You know that calamity can come almost overnight. It has done so in the past, and so a measure of preparedness is wise counsel to you. ¶

I trust too that those of you who are perplexed to know what to do will seek good solid counsel. I never feel it embarrassing to ask counsel from men who have had experience and men who are supposed to know. It is far less embarrassing to expose your hazards to them than it is to endure some of the disastrous results which may come to you. ¶

It is a good thing to seek counsel. You Bishops, when you are asked for counsel, I think that you may be endowed with the spirit of wisdom, if you live for it, and you can give counsel superior to your own native acumen and wisdom to these people who ask you; and it would be well for our brethren to seek counsel in the control and management of their affairs. ¶

In relation to these financial matters I just want to say a further word on tithing. Our brethren who visit the stakes frequently report as to the tithing conditions which they find among the officers of the stake. I think, my brethren of the bishoprics and of the presidencies of stakes, and the high councils, and the presidencies of quorums, that the best way in the world to teach tithing is to practice it. I have said in your presence before that tithing does not mean one-fiftieth, nor one-thirtieth, nor one-twentieth. Tithing means one-tenth. ¶

I have sometimes wondered what a part tithing means. I have never seen any definition of it, but I know what a tithing means. So far as I know, there is only one tithing, and that is one-tenth. So I believe that you brethren in authority could bring a lot of happiness to men and women throughout the Church if you yourselves would fully comply with this law that the Lord has given to us. ¶

I lay stress upon not merely the financial aspects of it, although they are essential, but to the growth of spirituality that it brings to the man who conforms to this great law. I believe it is one of the greatest laws that the Lord ever gave to us, because he well knew that something more than lip service was necessary in order to develop a great love and regard for him and his work. ¶

He knew that the man who would reach down into his pocket and get that which represented his muscle, his energy, his brain power, that that man, when he gave the proceeds of his work, would give of himself; and he knew that when that man gave of himself to the work that he would engender within himself a love and a sacred regard for God and his mighty cause. I know of no one thing out of which more spiritual growth arises than out of the faithful payment of tithes. So I ask you to consider what you can do for yourself, what you can do for others by complying fully with this sacred law that the Lord has given to us. ¶

I often look back to President Grant who was so generous in his giving. ¶

Many of you have heard him tell how he was always pleased to head a subscription list to build a home for a widow, to look out for orphans and for others, and to share that which the Lord brought him with others. I think that he set before us an example that we should never forget, and those who are blessed with great means should be generous with their means. ¶

Right now we are having something of a dearth of missionaries, and we have recently had requests from some of the missions, particularly foreign missions, asking if we could not in some way get a little money to assist in the support of seme of their local missionaries. The very mission which Brother Stover represented has just recently sent word that there are a number of young Germans over there who could do some work as local missionaries from the Church if they had a little assistance. I do not know that we should make a public appeal here for funds, but if there are those blessed with means who would like to make some contribution to our great missionary cause, they can do so by arranging with our office so that some means can go to the assistance of some of those who can help in this work. ¶

And I am sure that they would be blessed and feel happy within themselves if they were able to undertake some such support for these missionaries. ¶

Now, my brethren, President Clark says it is a subduing and humbling experience to stand in the presence of this magnificent congregation of the priesthood. There is a strength represented here tonight which, if fully employed, would have within itself the power to advance this great cause with which we have the honor to be identified beyond even the finite concept of those who wish it well. If the whole priesthood throughout the Church would live up to the obligations and opportunities coming to them to magnify this glorious calling, we would see advancement that would bring us gratification indeed. ¶

I pray that every man who bears this holy priesthood will prize it, and account it as the chief blessing of his life, and use it for the blessing of his family and his fellows. Thank the Lord for this holy power. I know that it is genuine. I know that it is not a mere concoction of men, as Brother Bowen spoke of today. I know that it was divinely given, and I pray to the Lord that I for one may be worthy of this high endowment that the Lord in his mercy has brought to me and to you. ¶

May the Lord's blessings abide with you, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶