--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Fox, Ruth May collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 10 published: 1912-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Ruth May Fox, "Intellectual Development," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 10 (August 1912): 921–922.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera15010unse 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: improvementera15010unse start_page: 921 end_page: 922 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera15010unse publication_year: 1912 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 1912, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Intellectual Development INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT BY RUTH MAY FOX My brethren and sisters: — I ask you that you give me your sympathy and faith that with that and the blessings of God I may be able to make you hear, the few moments I stand before you. Man's intellect is God-given, and is a spark of that eternal intelligence which governs all things. Through its proper training man may reach to the highest possible culture, or through its misdirection may descend to the very dust. To illustrate. Napoleon used his intellect for the accomplishment of his own selfish ambitions, right or wrong; George Washington used his for the uplift of his people. Hence, the old proverb that has come down to us through the ages, viz.: "Get wisdom, and with all thy getting, get understanding;" is just as applicable today as at any time since the words were first spoken. College education is no doubt very helpful to the training of the intellect, but not the all-important thing. Success lies largely in individual effort. Man grows in intelligence as he grows in good works. So it is not altogether what he knows that counts, but what he does, or, how he uses the talents with which God has blessed him. Lack of confidence in one's own ability retards progress with the suggestion that one cannot accomplish his aim. Therefore, many do not try. The confident believes that he can do what others have done, or even greater things. There is no such word as "fail." Some one has written, "If your desires are strong enough, you shall obtain, because you will bring every effort of body and mind to their fulfilment." In other words, want something, know what you want, then want it with all the power and life that is in you. Our young people should read the biographies of self-made men that these may arouse their own ambitions. James A. Garfield was born in poverty and obscurity. He strove against a multitude of obstacles to gain an education, and succeeded so well, ever going onward and upward, that he was called to many positions of trust, and finally became President of the United States. Abraham Lincoln what a monument of glory he builded for himself and this nation ! and he, too, was born in poverty, reared in the backwoods, with a most meagre opportunity for learning, yet he became a master of expression, the emancipator of thousands of the human race, the President of the United States; but, better than that, he builded up a character that was far greater than anvthing else he ever did. Our President, Bngham Youno- according to his own statement, received but nine days ot 922 IMPROVEMENT ERA. schooling, yet he became the greatest colonizer, the greatest leader and empire-builder of modern times. The Prophet Joseph Smith, whom the world considered an illiterate youth, by careful research and application, acquired the knowledge of many languages and much learning, translated the Book of Mormon, and became an instrument in the hands of God of restoring the true Church. But you say, Oh, yes, but these last two were specially endowed for special purposes. Very true, but special endowments do not usually come unsought, neither do they count for much if not appreciated. Again, I fancy some one is saying, Why don't you name some women who, by their own efforts, have become prominent? I answer that history has not been so kind to women as to men ; but, through all the ages, the best and strongest women have waded through seas of adversity and have given all they had to the world's crowningachievement, man. Opportunities are not lacking these days for intellectual advancement. All roads are open, thank. God, to the humble poor, as well as to others of greater needs. "Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom" is the injunction. Cultivate good thoughts. Study correct principles, and apply them in your lives. Be resolute in purpose and determine in your own mind to overcome evil ways. Remember that all good things are yours for the seeking, and that genius is often nothing more than well-directed energy. Eliminate "cant's" and "impossibilities" from your vocabulary, and study the words used by the old Norsemen : "If I can't find a way, I will make one." The Mutual Improvement organizations offer great advantages for intellectual training. The young ladies herald to the world that improvement is their motto, perfection their aim, and the young men declare that "the glory of God is intelligence." With these mottoes before them, and a well-devised suggestive outline of work marked out, and with proper direction of wise leaders and officers, deserving of all confidence because of their faith, energy and zeal, with the blessings of God and the authority of the holy priesthood to sustain them, our young people need not fail in anything they may wish to accomplish. May God bless them to this end, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.