--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Grant, Heber J. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 3 number: 2 published: 1899-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Grant, Heber J., "The Nobility of Labor," *Improvement Era* 3, no. 2 (December 1899): 81–86.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera32unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera32unse start_page: 81 end_page: 86 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1899-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera32unse publication_year: 1899 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1899, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Nobility of Labor NOBILITY OF LABOR. BY HEBER J. GRANT, OF THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES. While speaking to the young people at stake conferences of the Improvement Associations, and at ward meetings, I have endeav- ored to impress upon the minds of the youth the necessity of their working to the extent of their ability; and also while so labor- ing never to become disheartened. The Marchioness de Lambert has said: "There is nothing so improper for a young man as that modesty which makes him fancy he is not capable of great things. That modesty is a faintness of soul which hinders it from exerting itself. There is a superior genius and merit in some persons that tells them nothing is impos- sible to them." A number of those who have listened to my remarks have assured me that they have been benefitted thereby; and so I have concluded to become a regular contributor to the columns of the Era, and to chat with "our boys," as through that medium, I will be able to reach many thousands instead of a few hundreds. "Arise, therefore, and be doing, and the Lord will be with you."— I. Chron. 22: 16. 82 IMPROVEMENT ERA "To do that which before us lies in daily life is the prime wisdom." .t^ "He that loseth wealth, loseth much; he that loseth friends loseth more; but he that loseth his spirit, loseth all." — Cervantes. "Dream, oh youth! dream nobly and manfully; and thy dreams shall be thy prophets." — Lord Bulwer Lytton. If the readers of the Era will learn by heart the above quo- tations, and make these sentiments the rule of their lives, this action will be worth more to them, many times over, than the cost of a year's subscription. I have found nothing in the battle of life that has been of more value to me than to perform the duty of today to the best of my ability; and I know that where young men do this, they will be better prepared for the labors of tomorrow. In contributing to the Era a series of articles which will be made up principally of my own experiences, I shall do so, not for the purpose of throwing boquets at myself, figuratively speaking, but with the hope that I may inspire my readers with a desire to labor. It is admitted that statements of personal experiences, spoken or written, carry more force, and make a more lasting impression upon the minds of hearers and readers than can be made in any other way. This must be my excuse for relating so many incidents in my own career. When a youth, attending school, a man was pointed out to me who kept books in Wells, Fargo and Go's. Bank, in Salt Lake City, and it was said that he received a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars a month. Well do I remember figuring that he was earn- ing six dollars a day, Sundays omitted, which seemed to me an enormous amount. Although I had not yet read the inspiring words of Lord Bulwer Lytton, quoted above, yet I dreamed of be- ing a book-keeper, and of working for Wells, Fargo & Co., and immediately joined the book-keeping class in the Deseret Univer- sity, in the hope some day of earning what I thought at that time to be an immense salary. I quote with pleasure once more from Lord Bulwer Lytton: "What man wants is not talent, it is purpose; not power to achieve, but the will to labor." THE NOBILITY OF LABOR. 83 Samuel Smiles has said: "Purposes, like eggs, unless they are hatched into action, will run into decay." Lord Lytton took it for granted undoubtedly that where a youth dreamed nobly and manfully, that it would inspire him to have a purpose in life, and to"hatch the same into action," and not allow it to "run into decay." Having purposed to become a book-keeper, I immediately set to work to attain this object. Well do I remem- ber the amusement I furnished my fellow-students. One remarked when looking at my books, "What is it; hen tracks?" Another said, "Has lightning struck an ink bottle?" These remarks and others, while not made to hurt my feelings but in good-natured fun, nevertheless cut deep, and aroused within me a spirit of de- termination. I resolved to live to set copies for all who attended the university, and to be the teacher of penmanship and book- keeping in that institution. Having a purpose and also "the will to labor," and agreeing with Lord Lytton that, "In the bright lexi- con of youth there's no such word as fail," I commenced to employ my spare time in practicing penmanship, continuing year after year until I was referred to as "the greatest scribbler on earth." The result was that some years later, I secured a position as book-keeper and policy clerk in an insurance office. Although at fifteen, I wrote a very nice hand, and it was all that was needed to satisfactorily fill the position which I then held, yet I was not fully satisfied but continued to dream and "scribble," when not otherwise occupied, I worked in the front part of A, W. White & Go's, bank, and, when not busy, volunteered|to assist with the bank work, and to do anything and everything I could to employ my time, never thinking whether I was to be paid for it or not, but having only a desire to work and learn. Mr. Morf, the book-keeper in the bank, wrote well, and took pains to assist me in my efforts to become pro- ficient as a penman. I learned to write so well that I often earned more before and after office hours by writing cards, invitations, etc., and making maps, than the amount of my regular salary. Some years later, a diploma at the Territorial Fair was awarded me for the finest penmanship in Utah. When I engaged in business for myself, there was a vacancy at the university in the position of teacher of penmanship and book-keeping, and to make good the promise to myself, made when a youth of twelve or thirteen, that 84 IMPROVEMENT ERA. I would some day teach these branches, I applied for the situation. My application was accepted, and my obligation to myself was thus discharged. Young men who are laboring in the improvement cause should be true to themselves, and when they resolve to accomplish some- thing, they should never become discouraged, but should labor cheerfully and with a determination until the promise to themselves has become a reality. I cannot possibly impress this lesson too strongly upon the minds of my readers. If we fall into the habit of making resolves in relation to ourselves, and of constantly breaking them, such a course will tend to make us careless in the fulfillment of promises to others. Young men should always re- member the advice which Shakespeare puts into the mouth of the father of Laertes, when the latter was leaving home: "To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day. Thou can'st not then be false to any man." I quote in full one of the lessons from the National Fifth Reader, which made a profound impression on my mind during my school days, and which has never been forgotten: NEVER DESPAIR. There is no trait of human character so potential for weal or woe as firmness. To the business man it is all important. Before its irre- sistable energy the most formidable obstacles become as cobweb bar- riers in its path. Difficulties, the terror of which causes the pampered sons of luxury to shrink back with dismay, provoke from the man of lofty determination only a smile. The whole story of our race all — nature, indeed — teems with examples to show what wonders may be ac- complished by resolute perseverance and patient toil. It is related of Tamerlane, the celebrated warrior, the terror of whose arms spread through all the eastern nations, and whom victory attended at almost every step, that he once learned from an insect a les- son of perseverance, which had a striking effect upon his future charac- ter and success. When closely pursued by his enemies — as a contemporary tells the anecdote —he took refuge in some old ruins, where, left to his solitary THE NOBILITY OF LABOR. 85 musings, he espied an ant t.iigging and striving to carry a single grain of corn. His unavailing efforts were repeated sixty-nine times, and at each several time so soon as he reached a certain point of projection, he fell back with his burden, unable to surmount it; but the seventieth time he bore away his spoil in triumph, and left the wondering hero reani- mated and exulting in the hope of future victory. How pregnant the lesson this incident conveys! How many thou- sand instances there are in which inglorious defeat ends the career of the timid and desponding, when the same tenacity of purpose would crown it with triumphant success! Resolution is almost omnipotent. Sheridan was at first timid and obliged to sit down in the midst of a speech. Convinced of, and mortified at, the cause of his failure, he said one day to a friend, "It is in me, and it shall come out." From that moment he arose, and shone, and triumphed in a con- summate eloquence. Here was true moral courage. And it was well ob- served by a heathen moralist, that it is not because things are difficult that we dare not undertake them. Be, then, bold in spirit. Indulge no doubts — they are traitors. In the practical pursuit of our high aim, let us never lose sight of it in the slightest instance: for it is more by a disregard of small things than by open and flagrant offenses, that men come short of excellence. There is always a right and a wrong; and if you ever doubt, be sure you take not the wrong. Observe this rule, and every experience will be to you a means of advancement. "Never Despair" has been one of the guiding stars of my life, as I have often felt that I could not afford to be outdone by an insect. At nineteen, I v^as keeping books and acting as policy clerk for Mr. Henry Wadsworth, the agent of Wells, Fargo & Co. My time was not fully employed. was not working for the company but I for the agent personally. I did the same as I had done in Mr. — White's bank, volunteered to file a lot of bank letters, etc., and to keep a set of books of the Sandy Smelting Co., which Mr. Wadsworth was doing personally. To emphasize the truth of the above quotation from I Chronicles, I will remark that my action so pleased Mr. Wadsworth that he employed me to do the collecting for Wells, Fargo & Co., and paid me twenty dollars a month for this work in addition to my regular compensation of seventy-five dollars from the insur- 86 IMPROVEMENT ERA. ance business. Thus I was in the employ of Wells, Fargo & Co., and one of my day dreams had become a reality. When New Year's eve arrived, I was at the office quite late writing calling cards. Mr. Wadsworth came in and pleasantly re- marked that business was good, that it never rains but it pours, or something to this eifect. He referred to my having kept the books of the Sandy Smelting Co. without compensation, and said a number of complimentary things which made me very happy. He then handed me a check for one hundred dollars which doubly com- pensated me for all my extra labor. The satisfaction enjoyed by me in feeling that I had won the good will and confidence of my employer was worth more to me than twice one hundred dollars. Every young man who will endeavor to employ all his time, never stopping to count the amount of compensation he is to re- ceive for his services, but rather be inspired with a desire to labor and learn, I promise, will achieve success in the battle of life. I urge upon the boys engaged in the Mutual Improvement Associations to labor with determination and zeal. ''Dream, oh youth! dream nobly and manfully, and thy dreams shall be thy prophets." ''What man wants is not talent, it is purpose; not power to achieve, but the will to labor." "Arise, therefore, and be doing, and the Lord will be with you."