Manhood

MANHOOD. BY
ELDER FRANCIS
M.
LYMAN,
PRESIDENT
OF
THE
QUORUM
OF TWELVE APOSTLES. The conceptions of manhood differ among different people. With our Indians, the brave who was the most skillful in hunting, and the fiercest in war, who could endure hardship, and even tor- ture, without flinching, and who knew and observed the traditions of the tribe, was looked upon as the best type of manhood. In civilized communities, higher qualities are deemed necessary. The Saints have the opportunity of forming the best standard, for they are striving to come unto "a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." They are able to become more intimately acquainted with the Lord than can others, for modern scriptures teach much concerning him that is lacking in the Bible, and the Saints, having the Spirit of Christ, can appreciate his per- fect character. Moreover, the prophets whom the Lord has chosen to lead his people are well known to- us. Joseph Smith, for exam- ple, next to the Savior the greatest prophet ever sent to earth, is misunderstood and hated by the world, but we know and love him, and his virtues and manhood are an inspiration to us. A life of struggle is necessary before we can come unto "a per- fect man;" but the outlook is not gloomy and forbidding, for •every day of effort and self-control brings at the time its own re- ward. On the way to the perfection of manhood, we will make mistakes that will cause ourselves and others sorrow. Though sin is inexcusable and always grievous to the Lord, yet we sometimes fall into transgression. In such conditions the consequences are diminished, if we discover our errors and correct them before they have become known abroad. We should have a proper pride in ad-

176 IMPROVEMENT ERA. justing all our difficulties before the teachers or bishop have even heard of them. If a man has evil tendencies in any particular direction, he can conquer them by self-control, prayer, and striving to help others who are similarly tempted. Whenever we inspire another to reform his life, we [do ourselves a greater service. Young men, seek to be leaders and teachers of morality and earnest thought, instead of dullards, who need to be labored with continually. In years to come, if you have used your talents wisely, you can look back upon a world of good accomplished by friendly counsel and kind acts; for the effect of good work grows with time. One man reformed becomes a reformer, his family is benefitted, and the influence goes out silently in many directions. And in all our efforts to benefit others, we must be watchful of ourselves. Eternal vigilance is the price of the freedom of the soul as well as of the state. Some are better able to lead out in lines of progress than are others, being natuarlly more courageous, but courage can be culti- vated. A true man does not sink his colors at the first onslaught, and after a time, he grows used to the battle, and becomes a vet- eran. Elders laboring in the ministry are generally timid to be- gin with, and on the streets and in their tracting from door to door, they meet rebuffs that make them sick at heart. Still they do not often apply for a release, but go at the work again and again until they relish it, and are stirred by the opposition to better efforts. When the Lord, through his Spirit or his servants, directs us to do something, we should not be daunted by any diffi- culty. We may need to plant our faith against what seems to be fate itself. Defeat, which may only be temporary, should not make us hopeless. Courage, moral and physical, is an attribute of the highest manhood. No rewards of any value come to faint hearts or to triflers. Courage has its root in cheerfulness, and cheerfulness becomes rich and deep in a mind busy with earnest work. Doing good to others is a complete cure for the blues. Let the heart be warmed by love, and the mind, too much concerned in the failings and fail- ures of self, begin to make plans for the happiness of others, and we will feel gladness coming into our own souls. It is a duty to be

MANHOOD. 177 cheerful as well as courageous, for a happy man is of more value to the world than is a melancholy one. A buoyant spirit that fathers pleasant smiles and cheerful words helps the world forward, for joy is a tonic, it gives more energy than does hate, and directs its use in a wholesome way. But if a man would be cheerful, he must live at peace with his neighbors, and be ready to do more than his share of their common labors. He must be prepared to endure criticism, just and unjust, and invariably do good for evil. There were various reasons why the Lord stopped the march of the pioneers on the barren valley of the Great Salt Lake, instead of letting them proceed to the well-watered country of Oregon, or the garden lands of California. One was that Utah offered un- rivaled opportunities for determined, intelligent work, and it was necessary that the Saints should be workers. Appreciating this, they named the new country Deseret, and set to, like honeybees, to provide for themselves and others. The general industry of the people is recognized; they did not perish under the new conditions* but have grown strong and become established. In every hive of bees there are drones, but these are driven out when their usfulness ends. There should be no drones in Des- eret. No one possessing true manhood will shirk his share of re- sponsibility and toil. To provide for himself and family is nearly the first duty of man. Through honesty and diligence the youth should make himself a necessity in his place. Busy men usually have more than they can do. Work begets work, and those who do things well, in due time are sought after. Honorable success wins confidence, and to the progressive, reliable worker, new and larger fields are continually opening. In our cities especially, false standards are creeping into the lives of many young men. In their own homes, possibly, they have tasted luxury, or they see others about them enjoying the good things of life. Foolishly, they begin to spend everything available, in their eifort to live on a higher plane than they belong. The productive power of young men is usually not large. If they marry, as they should, they have more demand for what they earn. They should live simply, always bringing their expenditures well inside their income, and investing the margin or surplus in some profitable business that will yield a regular income.
While the family is

178 IMPROVEMENT ERA. small, and youth and health and love make hardships easy to bear, the prudent man will labor early and late, and lay up a store for future days. He will spend little on pleasure; his joy will be in his work and his family. All young men in the Church who have the spirit of the gos- pel desire to stand at the head of a family, and are willing to bear whatever burdens this may bring. There is certainly weakness somewhere when a man goes through life unmarried. To be a husband and a father adds to the worth of a man; and when wife and children are bound to him for time and eternity, he stands as a power in the universe; for if all goes well, his family will exist and increase forever. The man has the privilege and responsibility of choosing his wife. His suit may be rejected or accepted, but the initiative is with him. It behooves him to choose well. The love of the world may be blind, but proper love, associated with fervent prayer and earnest desire for the welfare of both parties and of spirits yet unborn, is not blind. Indeed, a higher sight than human vision accompanies such love. And among the attributes of the highest manhood we must in- clude faith in the Lord and devotion to him and his work, such de- votion that we can say in the midst of affliction, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." The gospel trains us in obedience and in- tegrity, purity and continence; it brings us into harmony with the Lord, and if we obey it with full purpose of heart, never fal- tering or backsliding, it will make each of us, like the Author of our salvation, a perfect man.