--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Martin, Thomas L. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 25 number: 8 published: 1922-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Thomas L. Martin, "Life Is What We Make It—III," *Improvement Era* 25, no. 8 (June 1922): 690–691.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2508unse 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: improvementera2508unse start_page: 690 end_page: 691 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1922-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2508unse publication_year: 1922 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 1922, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Life Is What We Make It—III Life is What We Make It By Thomas L. Martin, Dept. uj Agriculture, Brighum Young University III— Which Are You? The people were all assembled. It was a great day in Israel. At last the Lord had said: "You shall have a king." Never before had there been such keen anticipation as prevailed on this coronation day. Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, was ready to proclaim Saul, King of Israel. "Where is he?" came the cry. When inquiry was made the answer came, "Be- hold, he hath hid himself among the stuff." "They ran and fetched him thence and when he stood among the people he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and up- wards." Yet, this great, big, physical man when responsibility was placed upon him to serve his people, shrank from the task, afraid of his job. He proved himself a man not equal to his calling. It became necessary for the Lord to reject him. David was not nearly so large phvsically as was Saul, but when called upon to prepare himself to be the leader of IsraeLhe demonstrated that he was the man. All Israel trembled at the approach of the giant Goliath, but David said to Saul, "Let no mans heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight the Philistine." David showed such a spirit throughout his life. "He went on and grew great and the Lord God of Hosts was with him." He enlarged the boundaries of Israel to the limits promised by the Lord. He was loved by all; a real leader, a man who lifted the people to a level never before known in Israel. David was a lifter, Saul a leaner. Which are you? In every community we find a few who say, "We must comfort the hearts of the sick and the needy. We must call for donations to provide a celebration in order that all people may be happy. We must find ways and moans to alleviate suf- fering." These few actually do these things. In every com- munity there are those who say, "Let well enough alone. If the man is sick, let him look after his own affairs. If I am sick no one will take care of me. If we have a celebration it means that I must donate. Why can't the people mind their own bus- • O)) iness r Such an attitude is characteristic of the cockle-burr plant. Sharp spines protrude from their bodies; the environment is LIFE IS WHAT WE MAKE IT 691 very unpleasant for the seeking of the honey bee and the brows- ing of the cattle; an environment that wounds and spreads gloom; it asks no favors and gives none; the clammy sort of person that lives in this shell and radiates gloom to those about him. This is the type of man that is responsible for much of the misery in the world at the present time. The constant war and turmoil, suspicion, selfishness, distrust, and innocent suf- fering. All because of this kind of man. Which would we rather be, the man of service, or the man of selfishness? Which are you? Young people, we are in the making. Shall we push the walls that crowd us in? Shall we stretch our arms, gaze on our strength, feel it surge through our bodies with its accompanying sensation that we are placed upon the earth not to be subdued by it but to make it serve us to the glory of its Maker? Surely his is our only choice, surely we shall become Davids and be real lifters, and not leaners. The poet says: There are two kinds of people on earth today, Just two kinds of people, no more, I say. Not the sinner and saint, for 'tis well understood The good are half bad and the bad are half good. Not the rich and poor, for, to rate a man's wealth You must first know the state of his conscience and health. Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span Who puts on vain airs is not counted a man. Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears. No ! the two kinds of people on earth, I ween, Are the people who lift and the people who lean. Wherever you go, you wdl find the earth's masses Are always divided in just these two classes. And oddly enough you will find, too, I ween, There is only one lifter to twenty who lean. In which class are you? Are you easing the load Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road? Or are you a leaner who lets others share Your portion of labor, and worry and care? Which are we going to be? Shall we be happy? There is but one choice. Life is what we make it. May we be counted with the lifters. Provo, Utah