--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - George H. Brimhall collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 24 number: 3 published: 1921-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'George H. Brimhall, "Vital Problems of Life," *Improvement Era* 24, no. 3 (January 1921): 229–238.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2403unse 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: improvementera2403unse start_page: 229 end_page: 238 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2403unse publication_year: 1921 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 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Vital Problems of Life Vital Problems of Life A Study for the Advanced Senior Classes of the M. I. A., 1920-21 By Dr. George H. Brimhall Lesson XIII. — The Helpfulness of Inheritance Preliminary Suggestions The subject matter of this lesson is not to be considered as in any way exhaustive, and the class leader, it is hoped, will be able to introduce additional topics or even substitute some for these. The singing of "Count your many blessings" would be a fitting opening exercise, and the singing of the last stanza of "America" would be appropriate as a closing number. /. General View., The giant civilization as depicted carries the individual on his shoulder. From his high outlook the individual sees beyond the view of the giant and whispers in his ear the direction he is to take in making his upward climb. The vantage ground upon which any one is born is the gift of the race and of Deity. //. Some Special Considerations. We inherit our earthly existence, our "added upon," which is fundamentally a gift of God, through the instrumentality of parents. The helpfulness of this inheritance is the step between our premortal and mortal estate, giving to us the power to enjoy beyond the possibilities of spiritual existence. (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 93:33.) ///. We Inherit Aptitudes or Special Gifts. The parents of genius are aptitude and effort. Edison and aptitude are almost synonymous, but without work no wizard of invention. Dr. William James asserts that one of the evidences of genius He says, "Genius will work." Aptitudes affinity for work. is its are not limited to theuncommon people. A common person may become uncommon by doing common things in an uncommon way. Provisions, therefore, are made for genius to become quite general. The helpfulness of aptitude is two-fold; it points in the direction of our greatest usefulness and it accelerates the speed of our acquisition and efficiency in that line of usefulness. 230 IMPROVEMENT ERA IV. We Inherit Family Traits. This inheritance aids in the elevation of the family through the possibility of selecting and placing special emphasis on the nobler traits of the family group and suppressing the less desirable traits. To be born of goodly parents means to be born of two individuals possessed of noble traits of character and strong, healthy germ cells. We inherit not cnly form and color and size but racial or family traits, and when we think of traits we must distinguish between them and acquired efficiency. It must be remembered, too, that our personal physical inheritance is more or less composite, partaking of the nature of ancestors other than our parents. The make-up of a woman's brothers, points very strongly to the physical and dispositional quality of her sons; and the quality of a man's sisters is not to be ignored in prognosticating the quality of his daughters; nor are we to forget that men are much like their fathers, and that daughters are much like their mothers. Men are more like their fathers than any other person except their brothers, and daughters are more like their mothers than any other person except their sisters. The scientist, Mendel, threw considerable light upon the subject of physical inheritance, and the student wishing to follow this subject, is cited to what is known as Mendel's law of heredity, which law does not take into account the great fact of our pre-existence, a consideration made necessary by the thought of equity in the universe. We inherit instincts which are race hahits. Thev are also thought of as blind impulses leading to wise ends. We are all born expert smilers and efficient weepers. We love without training and hate without being told how. We instinctively strike attitudes of self-protection and adjust ourselves automatically for self-conquest. Man has more instincts than any other creature. V. We Inherit Opportunity. (A) Opportunity to be acted upon, first, by environment; second, by instruction, third, by example; fourth, by inspiration both human and divine. We are acted upon by environment. Beauty without begets beauty within; truth without begets truth within; goodness without begets goodness within. We may choose our environment but we may not choose the effect the environment will have upon us. Classic music, masterpieces of art, high grade drama, clean movies, never leave us on as low a level as they found us. Jazz music, bad pictures, low theatricals, and vulgar movies, never leave us as high as they find us. We become like the things that cause us to vibrate. VITAL PROBLEMS OF LIFE 231 We Are Acted Upon by Instruction. Our traditions become a part of us. The lectures we listen to, the sermons we hear, the literature we read may pass out of our consciousness and lodge more or less in our subconscious selves, to help us or trip us up in some unexpected turn in our life's pathway. We Are Acted Upon by Example. Man is first an imitator. Our physical attitude or general bearing, our walk, our accent, in fact most of our personal habits come to us through imitative action ; conscious, semi-conscious, and unconscious. When chided for drawling his words, the school boy replied with pride, "Mother drawls hern." On hearing himself spoken of as a natural gentleman, the young man felicitously remarked, "You ought to see the gallantry of my father to my mother." We Are Acted Upon by Human Inspiration Individually and in Groups. The utterance of Wellington, "Up and at them, guards," was more than an order. The command was loaded " with, "We can beat them Dr. Karl G. Maeser found one of his former students making an easy living by keeping a saloon. The venerable teacher, with emotions of sincere tenderness, said in a voice that thrilled his auditor, "My boy, you cannot afford to sell poison to your fellows, you are too good to be a saloon keeper." The inspiratin of that utterance closed that saloon. We are Acted Upon by Divine Inspiration. "There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth — them understanding." Job 32:8. "Did not our bosoms burn within us?"— Luke 24:32. "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."— Matt. 16:17. "There are two comforters."— Compendium, Gems, pages 268, IW. (B) We Inherit Endless Opportunity to Act. Agency is a gift. Man creates very few of his opportunities and in his creation he uses inherited material and conditions. The knowledge-treasures of the race invite us to trained action. The tool chest of the inventor of the ages lies open before us. mayWe make our clothes with the bone needle or with the sewing machine; we may send our messages by an errand boy or by radio. We may tread the desert afoot, or soar over it in the aeroplane. We may inquire of our neighbor as to what's the news, or have a daily report of the world's happenings delivered at our homes. Our diet may be limited to the back yard garden, the hen coop, or to the cow pasture of our native village; or we may feed on the products of five continents. We may walk on the home-made rag carpet or the Persian rug. We, the common people, may know more, make more, enjoy more, than kings — 232 IMPROVEMENT ERA and emperors of ages gone by. We have inherited the task of training mankind in the doing of what all teachers have taught them to know. * Conclusion Under the provisions of the gospel we have inherited the opportunity of working for humanity towards Divinity. (Doc. and Cov. 76:49-69.) Literary Lights "He was not only a chip of the old block bnt the old block itself." Edmund Burke. "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them — that hate me." Exodus 20:5. God in Millersville, December issue, 1920, Improvement Era. Finding We believe also that the Lord God is a generous God, visiting the virtues of the parents upon the heads of the children unto the third and four generation of them that love him. Questions and Problems 1. What does inheritance mean to you? 2. Illustrate the distinction between an instinct and an aptitude. 3. Wherein is instinct essential to the preservation of life? 4. In what particulars is aptitude helpful? 5. In what respect is every one a genius? 6. Give illustrations of doing common things in an uncommon way. 7. Discuss the saying of Dr. William James, "Genius will work." 8. What division of this lesson is illustrated by the fact that melons laid on salt will become salty? Give an illustration of human inspiration. 9. 10. Give an illustration of divine inspiration from the life of Wilford Woodruff. 11. What is meant by the individual being on the shoulder of the giant civilization? 12. Give an historical illustration of the individual directing the giant. 13. Show the relation between "Finding God in Millersville," "Abou Ben Adham," and "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief." 14. Discuss the proposition: It were better for the earth to be cursed, and man have the opportunity for work, than for the earth to remain blessed and man be cursed with a life of ease. 15. Show that the so-called labor-saving devices are labor-creating devices. 16. Prove the truth of the statement: Opportunity may be inherited, but efficiency must be acquired. 17. Write the menu of a meal that would justify the expression, "feeding from five continents." Lesson XIV. —Freedom From Debt Running in Debt. Running in debt means running out of freedom. Running in debt is habitually spending more than VITAL PROBLEMS OF LIFE 233 one has to spend for current expenses. The habit is a sort of free agency peonage, a sort of free will slavery. As there are some good people who are never happy unless they are miserable, there are some honest people who are never free unless they are at the end of their financial freedom. A little ready money creates an irresistible pocket uneasiness, and a surplus of good credit surges for an outlet in an overflow of expenditure. There is a vast difference between running in debt and assuming judicious credit responsibilities, for the purpose of increasing one's earning capacity or protecting present interests. Running in debt for a touring car, for expensive homes and furniture, for extravagant house parties, and costly apparel, all hinder prosperity; while borrowing money to stop rent by building a home, investing in safe industrial enterprises, or to get an education, helps prosperity and makes for freedom. As a rule, running in debt is a habit behind which there is a sense of carelessness or financial indifference. Buying before pay day or harvest is always accompanied with credit prices, a condition which is always of necessity against the purchaser. Some habitual debtors there are who repose on the sentiment, "Let the other fellow worry," but usually the ever-indebt individuals are persons of good intent who, feeling the bondage of debt, yearn for the joy of freedom from debt. Some of this class are wise enough not to try to fool themselves. They recognize a necessity for heroic treatment of their financial invalidism or incapacity to pay as you go and spend no further. They also recognize the fact that they are habituated in getting out of debt. And with this self-acquaintance they deliberately contract obligations which pre-spends their income and hazards their credit, thus putting on the pressure of an ever-pending financial crisis, which pushes them into the attitude and action of heroism, and they save to redeem. Such persons will save money to pay the monthly installments on a home or accumulative investment when they would not save up money to purchase a home or make an investment. The Budget. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, and survey is indispensable to financial vigilance. Expenditures must be considered under three general heads: necessities, comforts, and luxuries. These heads are susceptible of almost endless divisions, and there will be a variety of judgments as to what are essential comforts, and luxuries. In forming judgments for the classification, we must first be able to discriminate between our wants and our needs. — 234 IMPROVEMENT ERA The pull of the "I want," depends greatly upon what other people have, and custom places upon it its, "you-ought-to-have" label, thus making of it a social need. To give the right of way to this social need means budgeting for bondage instead of financing for freedom. Herewith is presented a copy of a budget from an up-todate text, Business and the Household, by C. W. Taber, which is presented as a sample monthlv budget for houses heated by tenants. Budget No. 4, income $1,200 per year, or $100 per month: Necessities 2 persons 3 persons 4 persons 5 persons Food $ 24.00 $ 30.00 $ 36.00 $ 42.00 Rent 20.00 20.00 25.00 25.00 Clothes 12.00 15.00 18.00 18.00 Operating Expense 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 Total Necessities $ 66.00 $ 75.00 $ 89.00 $ 95.00 Higher life including savings 34.00 25.00 11.00 5.00 Total $100.00 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00 The higher life item ol the budget includes expenses for necessities, care of health, including a reasonable such as amount for recreation, expenses for education, for newspapers, magazines and the like, and also whatever personal expenses may have to be provided for. In this item, too, is included savings. How far we are joy-riding towards freedom from debt is interesting when we consider the fact that a small car drops a dime every mile, and a large one flings a quarter at every mile post it passes. Literary Lights "Freedom from debt fills one with the alacrity of independence." "He looks the whole world in the face for he owes not any man." Henry W. Longfellow, "The Village Blacksmith." If not familiar with this well known American poem, read it. Freedom from debt preserves friendship. "Neither a borrower n^r a lender be, For San oft loses both itself and friends, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry." — Polonius' Advice Shakespeare. Freedom from debt is essential to good standing before the Lord. Malachi 3:8. "And again verily I say unto you concerning your debt, it is my will that you should pay all your debts."— Doc. and Cov. Sec. 104:78. — VITAL PROBLEMS OF LIFE 235 "Pay the debt thou hast contracted with the printer. Release thyself from bondage."— Doc. and Cov. 19:35. Freedom from debt to the Lord increases one's ability to secure freedom from debt to our fellow man. "I can pay more of my debts to my neighbor, if I have contracted them, after I have met my honest obligation with the Lord, than I can by neglecting the latter, and you can do the same. If you desire to prosper and be free men and free women and a free people, first meet your just obligations to God, and then meet your obligations to your fellowmen. Bishop Hunter used to put the matter in these words, 'Brethren, pay — your tithing and be blessed.' " Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, page 326. Problems and Questions 1. Discuss the following statement of Dr. Johnson: "Small debts are like small shot, they are rattling on every side, and can scarcely be escaped without a wound." Also this statement of Alexander Hamilton: "A national debt, if not excessive, will be to us a national blessing." "Wilt thou seal up the avenues of ill? Pay every debt as if God wrote the bill." Emerson. 2. Write a set of rules of your own for securing freedom from debt. 3. Discuss the difference between running in debt and making safe investments on borrowed money. 4. Formulate a budget suited to your income and circumstances. Lesson XV. — The Control of Bias The Aim. The aim of this lesson is to show that our leaning or bias of self-interest needs control. The thought is not to disapprove of bias, but to indicate the necessity for its control. Self-interest is essential to existence, as well as to progress: but it is intended to be the servant of the soul and not the master of the soul. Not the suppression but the management of self-interest is sought. Lesson Statement and Illustrations. Bias is a leaning of the mind. In this lesson we shall think of bias as a leaning of the mind caused by self-interest. The control of bias must then mean the regulation of the effect of self-interest on our judgments and on our actions. Friendship may give us a leaning pa«t the line of fairness, and love may incline us beyond the reach of the light of reason. We all know the pull of kinship interest, but taking it all in all, greed has been the worst of all bias forces. Bias makes us better excuse hunters for ourselves than for any one else. The control of bias, or the prevention of selfinterest from throwing us out of plumb, would make it possible for us to realize the ideality expressed in, "Then speak no ill, but lenient be To others' failings as your own." Bias makes us sacredly secretive of pur own feelings. Con- trol of bias would result in the poetic injunction: * 236 IMPROVEMENT ERA "If you're the first a fault to see, Be not the first to make it known." Bias makes us self-forgivers of a most indulgent type. The control of bias would tend to make us capable of forgiving all men. Bias is a sort of self-deception, for it brings us into a position where we see our faults at the small end of the telescope. Bias drowns the voice of conscience, with the shouts of desire, and secures our assent to errror in action. Bias makes it easy for us to believe what we wish to believe and makes it impossible for us to see clearly against our inclinations. — Individual Bias Illustrations. A man had an opportunity to sell some very popular stocks which he himself would not buy. He found a customer and might have made $1,500 on the first sale. He wanted the money, the pull of self-interest was not only there, but it was recognized as being there. The man felt himself bending out of the line of uprightness, or — veering from the course of the needle of his soul conscience. He straightened up within, gathered up his stock propaganda literature,and threw it into an old well. In relating the circumstance, afterwards, he said, "Had there been $50,000 in sight, I might have yielded, but I hope not." To this remark a friend replied, "Well, at least, you proved yourself to be more than a $1,500 man." A Christian farmer was sacking up grain to pay off his hired help, he found himself disinclined to fill full the peck bucket, used for a measure. Suddenly, he said to himself, "Mr. Devil, get out of this granary, or I will heap up every bucket full as long as a kernel will lie on it." Bias not only bends the individual mind, but also the group mind. Group Bias Control Group bias is perhaps stronger than individual bias, as public self-interest or the interest of the group is greater than the individual self-interest and has a correspondingly greater bending power. An incensed mob will go to extremes at which the individual alone would stand aghast. Individuals are rare, whose bias will cause them to think, much less proclaim, "I, right or wrong," while we not unfrequently meet conduct in the group, which is equivalent to a banner floating from the domicile —"Our family, right or wrong;" or from the rendezvous, "Our gang, right or wrong;" or, even campaign headquarters, "Our party, right or wrong;" or over some national capitol, "Our country, right or wrong." VITAL PROBLEMS OF LIFE 237 The individual seems to bear self-deception longer than the group. As group self-survey has received more attention than individual self-survey, the group has formed a better acquaintance with itself than the individual has, and is, therefore, more concerned about the management or control of group bias, and of individual bias as it affects the group; hence serious deliberation, and wise legislation have been brought to bear for the control of group bias. Constitutions are framed as barriers, over which the bias of the legislative departments of government may not pass. Laws are enacted forbidding bias a place in our judiciary. A judge may not sit on a case in which he has any other than an official interest, neither may a juror serve on a case, in which he may have an interest, which would give to his mind a bias for or against either side. The control of group bias is the mission of statesmanship. The Civil War terminated in the defeat of the southern army, and the dissolution of the Confederacy; but the Union was preserved, and the North was victorious over a vanquished South. Among the victors was a group who urged handling the territory covered by the states once in rebellion, as conquered provinces, and the inhabitants as aliens. One of the advocates of this policy is quoted as saying, '"By the gods, there will be no trouble now in running the government." Here was group bias blinding statesmen. But this bias was to meet forces that would control it, and among these forces was Lincoln's ten per cent plan, which provided that whenever a number of voters, in any state, equal to ten per cent of the number of votes of 1860, should take the oath to support the constitution of the United States, and the laws and proclamations regarding slavery, which the President had issued during the war, until passed upon by the supreme court, and should organize a state government, he would give such government executive recognition. Generosity grappled with greed, little by little greed lost ground, and the life of was only saved but finally restored. the mutilated Union not (See History of the United States, Wiley and Rines, Vol. 9, p. 300.) Problems and Questions 1. Discuss the statement: "Love is blind." 2. Show how bias, or the leaning caused by self-interest, is related to the second great commandment. m 3. What form of bias needed control, in the tragedy to which Mark brutish Anthony referred, when he said, "O judgment, thou art fled to beasts, and men have lost their reason." —— 238 IMPROVEMENT ERA 4. Discuss this statement: The control of hias is a measure of the Christianity of the individual or the group. 5. Why is a man unfit to enact railroad legislation, who rides on a pass? 6. Why is a judge unfit to decide a case of a corporation, in which he is a stockholder? 7. Show how group hias plays a prominent part in politics. 8. Why should a juror not be permitted to sit on a case where a relative is being tried? 9. What great national, "We want to," or group bias, blinded the judgment of Germany in the late World's War? 10. Give scriptural proof that the first crime committed on the earth was due to a lack of bias control. See Pearl of Great Price, Rook of Moses, chap. 6:53. 11. Show that the pressure of unrighteous self-interest was offered as an excuse for the crime in the first murder trial on the earth. Pearl of Great Price, Book of Moses, chap. 5:15-18. 12. In which part of this quotation from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, is bias most emphatically expressed, "I hate him for he is a Christian: But more for that in low simplicity He lends out money gratis, and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice"? 13. Find proof: A. Of the value of scriptural knowledge in control of bias. Luke 4:1-14; Matt. 4:11. B. The power of prayer in bias control. Matthew 26:3646; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46. 14. State what you consider to be the best rule for the control of bias. Suggestive Summary The bias of self-interest blinds our judgment; self-survey is essential to self-control. Self-respect, or high ideality, not self-conceit, is essential to bias control. Scriptural knowledge is a ready means of bias control. The progress of peace depends upon group bias control. The Same Sunset By D. C. Restloff He stood at the prison window, He gazed at the setting sun, In its crimson glow he saw reflected Evil deeds that he had done. For by-gone acts, that he dare not tell— It glowed like lurid flames from hell. She stood at her casement window, She gazed at the setting sun, In its crimson glow she saw reflected- Kind deeds that she had done. And happy tears, welled in her eyes As she caught a glimpse of Paradise. San Diego, Cal.