For the Development of Character: Helpful Stories and Anecdotes

For the Development of Character. Helpful Stories and Anecdotes. BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON, AUTHOR OF "a BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCH," "a LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG," ETC. Of What Help is a Mission? Elder David H. Woodard, of Elsinore, Utah, recently returned from a foreign mission, answers this question, in his own case — a question frequently as~ked by young men who are not over full of faith. He relates: "I am thankful I was called on a mission. God has converted me to the principles of the gospel, in every case where I have put myself in harmony with them, "I have thus proved true the saying in John 7: 17: 'If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.' "Furthermore, I have proved true the saying in James 1: 5, 6: 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; audit shall be given him.' I have had my prayers answered to the very letter; just as often as I prayed for that which is righteous — and by just effort tried to obtain it." The Slavery of Bad Habit. A young man residing in Southern Utah, a prosperous, good citizen and member of the Church, gave the following strong illustration of the power of habit, and the need of self-will and control in overcoming it.

60 IMPROVEMENT ERA. He told the writer that when he was eight years of age he first foolishly began the use of tobacco, without the knowledge of his parents. When about seventeen years of age he had the privi- lege of attending school in the Brigham Young University. One day the president, suspecting that a number of young men used tobacco, called all the boys who had the habit to meet him in his office. Forty out of the whole enrollment responded, includine our friend. The president began to question them relating to the use of the weed: '■'When did you begin using tobacco?" "Why do you use it?" "Have you ever tried to quit ?" "Will you quit now?" In nearly every instance, to the last two questions the boys answered, "Yes; many times, but I can't." As the president went down the line, it was common for the boy sheepishly to acknowledge, "I have tried time and time again to quit, but I can't." This manifest weakness and abject slavery to a bad habit so disgusted our friend that he determined when his turn came that he would answer, "I have never tried, but I can quit, and I will." This he did, and he has never used tobacco since. In speaking of the disgust that he experienced at the answers of the boys, he expressed himself as so completely overwhelmed with the helplessness of the young men who had formed the dirty habit, that it made him determine that, as for him, he would show self-control and will enough to do as he pleased, rather than to be the slave of tobacco. He is, therefore, a free man, and thankful for the incident that determined him to be free. Courage to Say No. A former prominent school teacher of Salt Lake county, now occupying a remunerative position out of the state, related to the writer this incident, which came under his personal observation. It teaches that the only safe thing for a young man to do, when he finds himself in bad company, is to have the courage to protest against their evil suggestions, and then to abandon them — get out of it:

FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER. 61 "I tell you, no, I'm not with you, if that's what you're up to! It's not right ! You can count me out !" The speaker was a young man whom we will name Henry Hill, one of a crowd of boys, out for an evening of fun. It was the third or fourth exclamation of the kind he had made to the entreaties of his companions, and as he stood facing them, with his fists clenched, every muscle firmly set, the boys realized that he meant every word he uttered, and that it was no use further to appeal to him to join them in the scheme. "Then you're a sissy, a baby !" derisively shouted the crowd with one voice. "You're afraid; a sissy !" again resounded. One of the leaders then yelled "Oh, let the baby alone ! Let's go burn the fence !" "All right !" said one. "All right; let's go! Come on!" shouted the others, and off they rushed pell-mell, following Jack Marsh, the leader. The boys, ranging in age from fourteen to seventeen years, were out for an evening of so-called fun. They had already done some slight mischief, but nothing serious so far. In their antics, they had overturned several wagons, unbuckled harnesses, and tied or untied horses, as the animals happened to be either loose or fastened. For a crowd of boys on such "outs" seems determined that things shall be what they are not. They had taken horses from one man's stable and tied them in a neighbor's barn, and transferred the latter's cows to the stall where the horses stood; and in other ways disarranged things in general. Being about ready to end up the night, Jack Marsh had sug- gested building a bonfire, and that a neighboring fence be used for the purpose. The boys assented — some of them reluctantly in their own feelings, and in false fear of being; counted cowardly— all but Henry Hill, the sole objector, and, incidentally, the only boy exhibiting real courage— he it was who so promptly said "No!" and defended his position with such vigor and manliness as must have made a deep impression on the crowd, especially on the boys who were reluctant. All the contempt so scornfully directed against him hadn't the slightest effect in changing his determination. It was a case

62 IMPROVEMENT ERA. where it took more courage to stand on one's own judgment against the crowd, than with the crowd, on their suggestions for evil and the wanton destruction of property. So the crowd, led by Jack Marsh, went about their mischief; but Henry Hill went home. The next morning the good people of the village adjusted their property, but there was much stir over the burned fence. The young school teacher, being familiar with the youth of the village, was appealed to for the names of the culprits; but these were not divulged at the time, though public suspicion justly rested upon Jack Marsh, one of the wild young fellows in the district, noted for leadership in malicious mischief. Now it happened, some four years after the fence-burning incident, that the state law-makers met, and the school teacher, in the meantime, had been elected to represent a district in the lower house of the Utah legislature, tlsually the members of that body in the course of the session visit the state institutions, and the custom was continued by the sixth legislature. The state reform school was visited one day; and there, who should our teacher meet but Jack Marsh, the suspected leader of the boys, so familiar to him in the village where he taught school — disgraced for incorrigibility ! In the state prison he came upon another young man whom he recognized as one more of the gang. Going up to him, he said with apparent surprise: "Hello, you here?" "Yes; and I'm the biggest fool in. My fear of the boys led me to this. I was always afraid to stand against them and to assert my own best judgment. I fell in line with the devilment they wanted me to do, and I continued that way; and here's how it's ended. You can set it down, if I ever get out of here, I'll have a mind of my own!" Then he told the young former teacher all about the fence-burning incident. But the strangest, as well as the most pleasant, part of the young teacher-legislator's experience, in his round of the state institutions, was his visit to the University of Utah, where he met Henry Hill, a respected student of the great school, just beginning

FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER, r,3 his fourth college year with splendid prospects of honorable graduation. The Lord Answers Prayers. ''In a certain city in England," writes Andrew L. Rogers, of Snowflake, Arizona, in a letter dated August 27, 1910, "this incident occurred, while I was on my mission recently: A man denounced the 'Mormons,' at the close of a street meeting, in such vehement terms, that the crowd began to shout, 'They [the elders] ought to be pitched into the sea!' Notwithstanding these threats, and that if they appeared again on the street this opponent would be thereto help carry them out, another meeting was called; and when the time arrived this man, who made a boast to be there to tear down the 'Mormons,' did not even put in an appearance, and one of the largest meetings ever held in the place was con- vened. And, mind you, this was all in answer to earnest prayer that such should be the case." Photo bv Wilcox. Flag Rush, University of Utah, September 22. 1910, in which the Sophomores won from the Freshmen.