On the Use of Tobacco

IMPROVEMENT ERA Vol. XXV SEPTEMBER, 1922 No. 11 On the Use of Tobacco* Vote for no Candidate who will not Declare his Willingness to Retain the Anti-Cigarette Law on the Statutes By President Heber J. Grant The Anti-Cigarette Law Ought to be Enforced — not Repealed I rejoice that nearly all of the splendid slogans that we have had for many years past, have been carried into activity by the Mutual Improvement. One of these slogans reads, "We stand for the non-use and non-sale of tobacco." I believe that every one within the sound of my voice stands for the State law against the cigarette. Therefore, I appeal to the body of our young men and young women, the great majority of whom are endowed with the franchise, (perhaps we might very wisely pledge ourselves here tonight) to vote during the coming elec- tion for no candidate for the Legislature, who will not pub- licly announce himself or herself in favor of allowing the anti- cigarette law to remain on the statute books. [Applause.] Many say it ought to be repealed because it is not obeyed; I say it ought to be enforced, not repealed. There is sufficient power in this audience alone, if all persons within the sound of my voice should utilize their power and ability, to prevent that law from being repealed. Moral and Physical Danger in the Cigarette Nothing is more detrimental to the physical and moral growth of a boy than the use of the cigarette. Every full grown man, who uses the cigarette, places an object lesson before the boy which he ought not to do. It should be the aim of all men, *An address given at the M. I. A. Conference, June 10, 1922. Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter. Ac- ceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 2, 1918, %s per annwm. Address Room 406 Church Office Building, Salt Lake City, Utah.

956 IMPPROVEMENT ERA and of all women, for that matter, to place proper examples before youth. No matter what his religious convictions may be, every man should have an ambition to make his life worthy of emulation and his public and private record worthy of being followed, and if followed, of benefit to youth. It is natural for young men and women to imitate and to be influenced by their daily associates. I know of many splendid young men who have entered the employ of intelli- gent and bright men but with moral standards not of the highest, who, because of the capacity and the ability of their employers to make money, have followed their examples in things contrary to the teachings of their parents, contrary to the revelations of the Lord. With few exceptions, young men who have so done have made complete failures of their lives — some of them morally as well as financially. Danger of Aping Bad Habits I want to say that the young "Mormon" boy who apes the habits of those not of our faith is in greater danger of making a moral and financial wreck of himself, than the boy who has not been trained as our boys have been trained. The "Mormon" boy who has been taught by the precept and the example of his parents to leave alone tea, coffee, tobacco, and liquor, when he fails to do so he is breaking one of the Ten Commandments- — viz., "Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." I have heard of men, not of our faith, in this city, who have said, "The 'Mormon' boy who imagines that he is strengthening himself with the non-'Mormons,' who make no pretentions to live up to 'Mormon' standards, by aping their habits of drinking and smoking, is making a mistake. No man who goes contrary to the teachings of his parents strengthens himself with any intelligent man." I know from personal experience, as I grew up in a non-"Mormon" office, where every man was not of our faith, that my living up to the teachings of my dear, departed mother gave me a standing with those men that I never could have had if I had disregarded her teachings. Some of those men with whom I was then associated have made complete wrecks of their lives, but I know of no "Mormon" boy who has lived up to the standards of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ but who has made friends, has progressed, and has had power, physically, intellectually, and morally, with "Mormon," Jew, and Gentile. I know that the teachings that I received from my mother, and which I obeyed, were the very best capital and the very finest start in life, that I

ON THE USE OF TOBACCO 957 could have had. All of the individuals with whom I was asso- ciated as a boy in that office, smoked. I had to stand by a desk with my boss sitting by me smoking all day long. It made me sick and I would go out in the backyard and "cast up Jonah" regularly until I got used to it. Yet I admired the generosity of my boss; his kindness to me; I almost worshipped him in one sense ; but, thank the Lord, I followed none of the things that he did, that I had been taught to avoid — with the final result that my employer, to the day of his death, gave to me absolute confidence and respect, such as I never could have had, I am sure, had I followed his example and so disregarded my mother's teachings. He died, as I remember, about a year younger than I now am. He was a healthy, vigorous, strong, athletic young man. A "tobacco heart" doubtless aided in destroying his vital- ity. He was physically my superior, beyond comparison, at twenty-five, but by gratifying a big appetite to smoke nearly all day long, he shortened his life. In the latter part of his life his doctor forbade his smoking. The Promise of the Lord to the Obedient I call to mind one of my dearest friends in this city, who died younger than I am, with a tobacco heart. I call to mind many young men unwilling to keep the commandments of the Lord, who were strong physically compared with many of their associates, who are weak today while their associates who have obeyed the law are strong and vigorous. No more wonderful, or marvelous promise made by God can be found than the promise made to you and to me and to every Latter- day Saint who obeys the Word of Wisdom : "And all Saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel, and marrow to their bones, and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hiddden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint; and I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them." Think of it! What is greater than wisdom from God? What is the first great thing that men desire? Health. Where is an individual who does not desire life? Wonderful beyond my power or ability to tell are these promises of health and life made to us by God, if we will only leave alone the things that destroy our body, mind, and the finer instincts of our nature. Smoking Destroys the Gentler Instincts The average man who becomes a smoker, smokes nearly all of the gentler instincts out of his composition. I went to

958 IMPPROVEMENT ERA a banquet the other night, and I took along my wife, for I wanted her to hear the splendid speeches; but she did not hear them, because a man, in the form of a gentleman, who sat at the tal>I<\ next to her, smoked continually in her face. Of course, it made her sick, and she had to go home before she had heard any of the talks. This man did not know what he was doing. If his sensibilities had not been dulled by smoking, he would not have thought of doing such a thing. No true gentleman, in my judgment, would ever smoke in the presence of ladies un- less the ladies requested him to do so. Yet the ladies are at times to blame. You know some of them smoke. Time and time again while I was the President of the European mission, traveling in"No Smoker"cars,a fellow passen- ger would pull out his pipe, and when I would say, "Hold on; this is a non-smoker," he would answer, "Well, I have asked the ladies, and they do not object." "Well," I would say, "they are probably used to it; I am not. There are more compart- ments on this train for smokers than for non-smokers, and I have come into a non-smoking compartment, you will please put your pipe in your pocket. When we get to the next station, I have not the slightest objection to your getting out and going where you belong." I have had more than one lady become angry because I would not let a man smoke in my presence. I am sorry to say that the habit of smoking is growing among the ladies. If they keep it up long enough, the finer feeling of womanhood will disappear, no question about it. A Billion Dollars a Year for Cigarettes Alone "We stand for thrift and economy." One billion dollars a year is spent for cigarettes in these United States of America — one dollar a minute for every minute from the birth of the Savior until today; one dollar a minute burned up, destroyed. Think of it, a billion dollars in a single year for cigarettes alone. Three billion dollars are expended for cigars — more money than is spent in the United States for education; and yet we talk about the awful burden of education! I believe, firmly, that, if the Latter-day Saints had never used tea or cof- fee, or tobacco or beer or any liquor, if they had saved the money wasted in such things, and put it out at interest, the Latter-day Saints would today have ten times as much money as all the money in all the banks in Utah. Moreover, every dollar spent to break the Word of Wisdom goes away from our locality. Salvation in Obedience "There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven, before the foundation of the world, upon which all blessings are predi-

ON THE USE OF TOBACCO 959 cated, and when we receive any blessing from the Lord, it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicated." And when a person apostatizes it is because he disobeys the laws of God. Incidentally I might remark that many people who have been cut off from the Church, are teaching that the authorities of the Church do not treat them right, and that the authorities lack sympathy. Men cut off from the Church for sin, who say that they are all right, are liars pure and simple. You young people, do not listen to those who have defied the laws of God and have been excommunicated — they are liars, and un- less they repent, they will have to pay for their lies. "Obe- dience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." A Personal Illustration "There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven," and when we get a blessing, it is by obedience to a law. I read in the paper twenty-odd years ago, "Heber J. Grant will probably die" — with my picture in the paper. When I was getting well, the nurse in the hospital said, "Mr. Grant, you are going to get well. There were nine doctors present when you were operated upon. Eight of them said you had to die, there was no chance for you to live. But one of them said, 'I believe he will pull through.' " I said, "Will you invite that one to come and see me? 1 do not care to meet the other eight." When he came I said, "Doctor, the nurse has told me that of the nine doctors present when I was operated upon, you were the only one who said I would pull through. I would like to know why you disagreed with the other eight." He was a Southerner, and he said, "Mr. Grant, ah just took a chance, sah; ah just took a chance." I said, "Why did you take a chance?" "Well," he said, "Suh, I have felt the pulse of hundreds and thousands of gentlemen under operations, suh, but I nevah felt a pulse just like yours, suh. Your heart never missed one single beat fo' one hour and three quarters, suh, while you were under the knife, suh, and I said, that heart will pull him through." What was the strength of that heart? No tea, tobacco, or liquor had given me the tobacco heart, or had weakened the engine within me to fight disease. I was told by my family physician soon after that opera- tion to send for my shorthand clerk and make my last state- ment for I could not live. I had made a bargain with that doctor just before going to the hospital. I had told him that I was a ruined man financially; that, looking at it naturally,

960 IMPPROVEMENT ERA I would never live long enough to pay my debts. I told him that I would like to write a letter to my creditors,if it was certain that I had to die and that I would like to write another letter to my family and friends to leave with them my testimony of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I said, "If there is one chance in fifty that I can get well after this operation, you keep still, and I will take that chance, and with the blessings of the Lord I will get well. But if you know, after the operation, that I must die, you tell me, and I will send for my shorthand clerk, and I will write those two letters." He made the pledge, and he told me in the presence of my wife that they had dis- covered, when they opened me, that I was in the last stage of blood poisoning. An Assurance and a Miracle When he went out of the room, did* I send for my clerk? No, I did not. Why? Because, after I had made that bargain with the doctor, my wife, whose body now lies in the tomb, visited my home, and promised my wife who lives, that I should not die, no matter how sick I was. So when the doctor said I had to die, I had absolute and perfect faith (and perfect faith casteth out all fear) that I should not die. Why did I not die? Only a short time before I was oper- ated upon, the ex-United States Marshal, Frank Dyer, was oper- ated upon in the same hospital, for the same trouble, appen- dicitis; his condition was not as bad as mine, but he died. Dr. Allen Fowler, the chief surgeon in the Catholic hospital, said to President Joseph F. Smith, whb stood by me as I was being operated upon, "Mr. Smith, you do not need to discuss the possibility or probability of that man's recovery; he can- not live. Why, if he were to live, it would be a miracle, and this is not the day of miracles." In the last conversation of a serious nature that I had with President Smith, except on the day before he died, he referred to this experience, and he said, "Heber, write out that statement of the doctor, as he made it to me, and let me sign my name to it." I said to his son David, after we came out, "David, you write that out, and let your father sign it." I felt a little del- icacy as if I were preparing a document before his death, for I knew how sick he was, though I never gave up in my feelings and in my heart, until the day before he died, that Joseph F. Smith would not live. David did not get the statement, but the fact remains that Allen Fowler said those words to Joseph F. Smith, who was with me all night long, the night before I went to the hospital in the morning; and during the operation, as was John Nicholson and

ON THE USE OF TOBACCO 961 others of my friends. When it was said that I had to die, Brother Nicholson, afterwards, told me that the testimony came into his heart, "He shall not die; he shall live." The Law Must be Obeyed When the visitation was made to my home with the promise that I should not die, I knew that it was from the Lord, for I remembered a promise made to me many years before the operation, by my wife, before she died, that I should live to pay all my financial obligations, and that I should lift up my voice in many lands and in many climes, proclaiming the restitu- tion to the earth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ — the plan of life and salvation. I had never been upon a mission at the time that I was operated upon for appendicitis. Let me say right here, to all young Israel, that, notwithstanding the promises made to me by my wife, through the gift of tongues, that I should live to pay my debts, and to proclaim the gospel in many lands and in many climes "Since there is a law irrevoc- ably decreed in heaven before the foundations of the world, upon which every blessing is predicated," had I failed to ful- fil the law, I would have failed to obtain the promised bless- ing; my heart would not have had the power to beat steadily for an hour and three quarters. That doctor said, "Mr. Grant, the great pumping machine in the great city of Chicago which pumps the water to supply the city never beat more regularly, seventy-odd times to the minute, than did your heart." I ful- filled the law; therefore, when the last stage of blood poison- ing had set in, I did not have to die — a miracle in the estimation of Dr. Fowler. Instead of a miracle, it was merely the fulfilling of the law. The Lord fulfilled what he says in this same book of the Doctrine and Covenants, "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not as I say, ye have no promise." Therefore, the promise made to my wife who is living, by my wife who has passed away, that I should not die, was fulfilled; and in addition, the promise made years before by the wife now dead, through the gift of tongues, that I should lift up my voice in many lands and in many climes and pro- claim the gospel, had mot been fulfilled, at the time of the op- eration, but it has since been fulfilled. Since that time, I have lifted up my voice from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon; from Canada to Mexico, and in nearly every State in the United States. I have lifted up my voice in Japan, in the Hawaiian Islands; in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and the three Scandinavian coun- tries. I hafve borne witness that I know that God lives, that I know that Jesus is the Christ, that I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the true and the living God, and I do know

962 IMPPROVEMENT ERA that to every man, woman, and child, who obeys the command- ments of the Lord, the Lord will give the blessings that he has promised. May we go from this place with a determination, as the youth of Zion, to live the gospel, and if we do this, God's bless- ing shall attend ns one and all — and I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Grave of William Fowler Sydney B. Sperry, prin- cipal of the American Fork Seminary, contrib- utes a photograph of the grave of William Fowler, the author of the great hymn of the Latter-day Saints, "We thank Thee, 0 God, for a Prophet." He says that the grave was found after considerable search in the Manti, San- pete county, cemetery, and is located at a spot a few rods north of the soutjh end of the old stone wall, which is on the west side of the cemetery. It is in a dilapitated condition. The headboard is old and very unsightly. On it, scratched in rude fashion, can be faintly seen the letters con- stituting the name of William Fowler. Mr. Sperry deprecates the fact that the grave of the man who has enabled us to lead a more abundant life should be so poorly remembered, and ex- presses the hope that something will be done to erect a proper monument to the memory of the author of our great latter-day hymn. Monuments decay and are left to ruin, but the thoughts and words expressed in the hymn referred to live on forever. There is scarcely a settlement or ward in the midst of the many hundreds in the Rocky Mountains where the Latter-day Saints do not raise their voices on the Sabbath day to repeat in song the sentiments of the man whose headstone and grave are so poorly remembered. But William Fowler and his song live in the hearts of the people. However, why not have a suitable memorial to mark his body's resting place! A side activity for the local M. I. A.