---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 22
number: 10
published: 1919-08
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Comparisons," *Improvement Era* 22, no. 10 (August 1919): 908.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera22010unse
  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: improvementera22010unse
start_page: 908
end_page: 908
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1919-08)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera22010unse
  publication_year: 1919
  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 1919, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Comparisons

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910                   IMPROVEMENT ERA

littleimplanted in the souls of the youth of the land, as to how
to make themselves free from being a burden on their parents,
or a nuisance to the public. We  speak of their wants being supplied and satisfied, but are too silent concerning the obligations
devolving upon them for the having of these wants satisfied.
      There is much talk of the rights of a man and a woman to
choose their own mates, and if not satisfied, to get a divorce for
any cause but there is little talk, or none, of the obligations of
           ;

matrimony. It is treated as a light thing, easily changed if not
satisfactory; while the sacrifice and the obligations on both
sides, are seldom spoken of. We hear a great deal of the rights
of the working man and the labor organizations, but scarcely
anything of the obligations of the employed to give a just return
for the wages paid, or to see that nothing of the employer's
property is wasted or destroyed. Politicians and statesmen talk
of the rights of mankind to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But they scarcely ever speak of it, that they do not gloss
over the obligations devolving upon the race to protect, defend
and advance the just requirements that the nation of right demands, in return for these rights and blessings.
     Many people at home here selfishly speak of the obligations
of the Church and their neighbors toward them, and are very
jealous of their rights, and critical in their demands; but we
scarcely ever hear of their exploiting their own obligations due
the Church and their neighbors. People wish to be served, and
recognized, and helped; but are loath to serve, to recognize
others, and to help. "What has the Church done for me?" is
often asked, but seldom do we hear, "What have I done for the
Church?" As Bishop Nibley enjoined at the late general conference, let us ask ourselves the question, "How much of a sacrifice am I making for the work of the Lord today?"     Cannot we
do something for the Lord and the cause by rendering service,
rather than by being served?
    The thought applies in all the acts and industries of life,
and when young or old speak of rights and make demands for
them, they should remember that with those rights go obligations, which obligations are the rights due from us to others.
They should never be forgotten. Being always remembered,
they will make us more thankful for what we enjoy, more modest in our demands, and more considerate of others. This spirit
would bring capital and labor nearer together and establish
social and industrial harmony which we so much reed.       The
union of labor and capital is necessary, and any man seeking to
cause trouble between the two is a traitor to his country. Let
both consider each other's rights and obligations. To prepare
men for the right attitude on all these questions, there is no