--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Beesley, Clarissa A. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 20 number: 10 published: 1917-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Clarissa A. Beesley, "We Stand for Thrift and Economy," *Improvement Era* 20, no. 10 (August 1917): 866–869.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera20010unse 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: improvementera20010unse start_page: 866 end_page: 869 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1917-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera20010unse publication_year: 1917 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 1917, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # We Stand for Thrift and Economy fWe Stand for Thrift and Economy"* By Clarissa A. Beesley, Secretary Y. L. M. I. A. This slogan is one of a series of four which the General Boards have recommended to the consideration of the officers and members of the Mutual Improvement Associations. The first of these was presented at our June conference, in 1914 — "We Stand for a Sacred Sabbath and a Weekly Half-holiday." Those following were: "We Stand for a Weekly Home Eve- ning," and "We Stand for State- and Nation-wide Prohibition." We believe that the first two have been productive of a greater reverence for the Sabbath and an increased love of home, in the hearts of many of our young people. We know that the slogan last year had much to do in bringing about the happy condition which shall banish the liquor evil from the State of Utah, and shall assist in eradicating it from the nation. We now bring to you this slogan, and trust that its message shall be vital to all and shall be effective throughout Zion. We Stand for Thrift and Economy! The Latter-day Saints have always stood for thrift and economy. But many of us, of the younger generation, carried away by the spirit of the age, have partaken of the serious fault of the American people — that of extravagance and waste. Now the nation is calling to us, and the condition of the times demands, that we shall mend our ways and revive again those practices which make for whole- some, simple living which in turn develops honest, righteous manhood and womanhood. Thrift denotes industry; it denotes good husbandry. It is the power to produce. It is the power not only to accumulate wealth but to so manage and expend that wealth that it shall bring the greatest net returns. It is the power to grasp oppor- tunity. It is the power to convert limited resources into new forms and products which shall be stepping stones to comfort and prosperity. It is the power which enables one to keep out of debt, or, if forced temporarily into its bondage, soon to re- lease himself therefrom. I believe that the Lord loves a thrifty man or woman, pro- vided always that their hearts are set to do his will. We read that Abraham, the friend of God, was rich in cattle and goods, and we know that he and his children labored with their hands *Delivered at the M. I. A. Conference, Sunday, June 10, 1917. "WE STAND FOR THRIFT AND ECONOMY" 867 in the tilling of the soil. We read that Joseph, because of his executive ability and skill in the management of affairs, was honored of Pharaoh and of the Lord in being permitted to gather the grain into the storehouses of Egypt for the suc- coring of the famine-stricken lands. We read of the thrift and industry of the women of Bible days, to whom tribute is thus paid by King Solomon : She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. * * * * * She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet. * * * * * Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders 2 the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and she delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. I said that the Latter-day Saints have always stood for thrift and economy. Do you pause often to think of the thrift of your pioneer parents and grandparents? The example they set can- not too often be recalled. And today in nearly every town and village of these western valleys are families, the children of those early settlers, who have been successful financially, who occupy positions of prominence, and who are men and women of character in the community. Do we reflect that these men or their fathers brought the logs from the canyons and builded their homes, that they made their own furniture, mended or made the shoes for their children, and toiled early and late to make the earth yield of its abundance for the sustenance of their families? Do we reflect upon the resourcefulness and thrift of those pioneer women? How they carded and spun and wove, changing the raw material into clothing? How they took the saleratus from the field, dissolved it in water, and after the water had evaporated, used the remnant in lieu of baking soda for bread? How they poured water over the ashes from their wood fires to make lye, which in turn would be combined 868 IMPROVEMENT EK \ with the scraps of grease or bone to be made into soap? How, not having paper patterns, they pinned the cloth upon the "liv- ing model" and so cut out the dress? One incident tells of how a good woman, desiring some gray silk and knowing that none could be procured within a thousand miles, drew the white thread across the sooty bottom of a camp kettle, and was satisfied with the substitute. Surely such energy and thrift de- serve to be rewarded. Not long since a gentleman of some prominence in Utah, whose purpose it was to interest the people in the problem of food conservation, made this statement: "I cannot talk to your Relief Society about the preserving of food; they have always been doing this. There is no need to try to teach your people thrift and economy; they have always been trained along these lines; the teachings of Brigham Young have borne good fruit." One fortunate thing about the thrifty man and woman is that generally they possess many other sterling qualities of char- acter. The power to work, to work hard, and enjoy one's work creates a healthy condition of mind, so that, coupled with thrift, we usually find honesty, genial good humor, a love of temper- ance, and a love of virtue. Indeed, we could not advocate thrift were there not combined with it these other virtues. In the present movement to produce and conserve our food supplies that our own families may be well provided for in time of need, we must not forget our neighbor. Coupled with our honest effort for personal success, brotherly love should ever dwell within our hearts. And when the times of need are upon up. no one of us should forget to share with another who has not. Then let this message go forth to the members of the great Mutual Improvement Association: Let the young men imbibe the spirit of work which is resting upon the nation, but let them also set an example in honesty and clean living which shall reflect honor and credit upon the people of the Lord whom they represent. Let the young women also assist in increasing the food supply and in conserving that already produced; they, no less than their brothers, may render their country service by exercising wise, careful management of their resources. Let them learn the value of money, keep careful account of all they expend, and let them keep out of debt. May faith and good works increase among us and may the Lord bless us temporally and spiritually. M. I. A. Slogans We Stand for a Sacred Sabbath and a Weekly Half-holiday. We Stand for a Weekly Home Evening. We Stand for State- and Nation-wide Prohibition. We Stand for Thrift and Economy. Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. 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