Guide-Stones to Good Citizenship

Guide-Stones to Good Citizenship, By Professor William Peterson* Director of the Experiment Station and Professor of Geology, Utah Agricultural College There was a time when it was not considered necessary to have any special training to become a good citizen. But with the industrial revolution which has entered our country things are different. It was Nathaniel Bacon who once said that "a man should not live so close to his neighbor as to hear his dog bark." This motto was followed by such men as Daniel Boone, David Crockett, and others who took part in the settlement of the frontier. But today the problem is not to become a good citizen off alone by one's self. A good citizen of the present must fit into society. He must adjust himself to become a defi- nite part of the assemblage which has amassed for the gain and protection of each individual concerned, for the good of all, for the betterment of the standards of society, for the education and training of the young, for the strength which comes in work- ing as a community. In the light of today a good citizen must be a person of good character and training, ability to make a living for himself and dependents, have interest enough in the community to help others to work for the good of the cause, have an active interest in the affairs of State and National Gov- ernment, and to contribute something to society. Living together is like playing on the team. If one is weak the whole team is weakened by what the one is lacking. If one or two are extra strong the team or community benefits by this strength. The community into which you young people go will be greatly strengthened and benefited by the training you have acquired here. I compliment you on your attainment. I com- pliment the society into which you move. But you are young yet, and the road is longer ahead of you than that which you have passed over. You are well equipped for commencement in life, but there are sure to be some bad roads and breakers ahead. Your characters are in the formative period, and some guide- stones, if adopted, may be helpful. I am going to suggest only four which I consider most essential in a successful and satis- fying career. These are (1) self-discipline, (2) honesty, (3) in- dustry, and (4) faith in God. *An address to graduates of the Branch Agricultural College, Cedar City, Utah, May 26, 1922.

GUIDE-STONES TO GOOD CITIZENSHIP 521 The first essential to living in society is discipline. Coupled with this on the part of each individual is willingness to be disciplined. When we join the team we take the discipline of the coach. We know its benefit individually and collectively. In the assemblages of society into which you will move, you expect to be one of the team. You even — and rightfully too, for you have earned it — expect to be the coach. But one who can- not discipline one's self cannot expect to discipline others. To become a hero in the lure of the crowd is easy, but to resist temptation when alone takes a thousand times more strength. Temptation is only an opportunity to gratify a desire. We are made up of desires — some are for our good and some are not for our good and we know it. We know which they are. Our stand- ards of living determine which desires we shall gratify and which we shall squelch. Laws are made so people may be pun- ished if they encroach on the rights of others, but laws have never been very successful in compelling a man to discipline himself. He forms his own standards and is measured in the community as being strong or weak, according to his -standards of living. Man does not fall to temptation because opportu- nity presents itself, but because his standards permit it. T do not believe any person ever fell to the actual committing of sin until the sin had been committed many times in the mind of the individual. The Savior recognized this when he said: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shah not commit adultery: "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." The Savior also rigidly taught self-discipline in the two verses following this: "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. "And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: f->r it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell" (Matthew 5:29, 30). Discipline yourselves into regular habits, even the habit of work. Be moral, be clean, and maintain a clear conscience. Discipline yourselves into a mood of constant cheerfulness. Be courteous and willing to help others at all times. It is your duty to the community to help maintain high health stand- ards; therefore, keep yourself physically fit. Respect the rights and opinions of others. Be open to the truths as the dav's knowledge progresses. Remember the vision is measured by the height of attainment. Keep climbing, but do not let the vision of today interfere with the knowledge developed tomorrow.

522 IMPROVEMENT ERA Knowledge is not final; it is accumulative. Profit by the acts of the people toward Galileo. Galileo had climbed to a higher plane of vision. All that he gave was accepted if it agreed with the vision of the masses. But when he advocated the Copernican theory — clear to him— it was in opposition to the teachings and prejudices of the peo- ple. ' They were not open-minded, and poor Galileo with a master mind and clear vision was made to suffer, and scientific progress was set back a century. This was long ago, but similar conditions are still with us. Have a reason for your convictions, and have the courage to defend them. We all have with us a sort of mythical ideal of what man or woman should be. We may not find the perfect individual, the perfect ideal, but we have quite a clear concep- tion of what he should be. The only trouble is that we lack the courage of self-discipline, or we would all be ideals. Self-disci- pline is not a task for a certain day, a certain year, or even a definite stage in life, but it is a continuous process. It is a constant, daily, hourly repentance, and cleaving to that which is beneficial and eliminating that which is destructive. It is well expressed in the great Scout oath: "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and to my country * .. * to help others at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." Honesty is a measuring rod used on every individual in so- ciety. Mr. Withey, President of the National Surety Company of New York City, says: "Whenever you go to the bank for money you know that the banker requires of you either a note, security, or collateral on which he can realize at any time with accrued interest." There are two essentials necessary to pay this obligation — ability to pay and honest inclinations. The last is worth more than the first. The banker gives more considera- tion to it. Even though you have ability to pay, the banker asks these questions: "What is your character? What is your business career? What is your record?" Most of your record is still in the making. Will you discipline yourself to always adopt honest methods? There need be no concern about money contracts. Laws are made to compel people to pay their obliga- tions if they have the wherewith, 'but laws have done little to make honest characters. Being honest is only creating self-re- spect. Be honest with yourself as well as with lothers, and al- ways tell the truth. One lie usually requires many more in ex- planation and drags one deep in the mire. Be on the square. Establish a record, a career for being strictly dependable. May it be said of you when you have given your word t that there is no need of surety or guarantee. From dishonesty comes fear.

GUIDE-STONES TO GOOD CITIZENSHIP 523 From dishonesty conies grief, suffering, and anguish. Any man who is immoral and still claims a place in good society is dis- honest. He is living a lie which will sooner or later destroy him. Learn to love nature. Nature is honest. Nature never deceives. Nature teaches the lesson of consistency. There are those who say that successful business methods are shrewdness and the ability for one to gain vantage over the other. Such methods have passed out. The real business of today is founded on absolutely honest principles. No higher tribute can be paid a person than to say he is honest in his dealings and that his word is dependable. Don't vacillate. De- velop a single standard, for all occasions, and ha\e courage to live your convictions even in the face of ingratitude. Be thrifty. To be thrifty is to be careful and live on slightly less than you earn and to save the balance. Thrift begets honesty both with one's self and with, others. The attainment to which man has arrived — no matter how great — may be attributed to three causes: (1) his inheritance, (2) his association, and (3) his effort. Men do not govern their inheritance, and some complain about it. Some blame their de- fects and weaknesses on to their inheritance. But to those born in 'these mountain areas there can be no complaint. They are only the second or third generation of the sturdy pioneers. They have had given to them the strongest, cleanest, and noblest in- heritance given to man. Men may choose their association whether it be with peo- ple, books, pictures, or nature. It is well to be choice in your association. Cultivate a large and selective friendship, but see to it that it is good for your friends that you are their friend, that they are also in good association when you are with them. The most important law in evolutionary progress is that effort merits reward and that the reward is proportional to the effort. The great Master recognized this law in his parable of the money: "He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to re- ceive for himself a kingdom, and to return. "Ami he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. "But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. "And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. "Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. "And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou arthority over ten cities. "And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. "And he said likewise to him. Be thou also over five cities.

524 IMPROVEMENT ERA "And another came, saying, Lord, behold here is thy pound which I have kept laid up in a napkin. * * * * * ^ "Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? "And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds" (Luke 19:12-20, 23, 24). Form regular habits of work. Industry is the measure of progress. "There is no more personal merit attached to the pos- session of a superior intellectual power than there is in the possession of a large estate." The measure comes in how are those powers used or how is the estate used. Industry is the measure of progress. Initiative springs from industry. By hon- est industry a man climbs to his reward in society. Industry requires energy. Industry demands will power. In every per- son's life there comes at different times the stimulating desire of attainment. The human being is so constituted that any de- sired goal is possible if "we are willing to pay the price." The price can always be paid in energy, will, and industry. There is a familiar saying among the sturdy Norsemen: "I put my sole trust in my own strength of body and soul. Either I will find a way or make one." Napoleon's favorite maxim was "The truest wisdom is a resolute determination. " An effective de- termination means constant toil, constant effort, desire fed with energy and will. Real industry means work — work all the time. Not a life sentence to hard labor, however. Man differs mainly from the lower animals in his intellect. The animal must carry the bur- den placed upon it. Man may choose his task. Hard labor is doing that which is distasteful. Progressive industry is doing that which is pleasant. You have already felt the reward of in- dustrious effort. You have already formed a liking for certain tasks. You have felt the glowing satisfaction of accomplish- ment. You have learned that one task accomplished gives greater power for the next. Will you keep going? Men who have become the leaders in the world's civilization have been men of industry. During the past fifteen years I have watched many thousand students take up their task. I have tried to measure the capacity and power of intellect in a prophetic out- look for future success. The attempt has often been disappoint- ing. But I have noted that if a student acquires daily habits of consistent industry, his success is assured. The greatest suc- cess does not always come to the student of greatest intellectual capacity. The reward comes to the one who has made the great- est effort throughout the whole time. Self-discipline, self-control, honesty, and industry are the beginnings of practical wisdom. These must be rooted in self- respect. Hope, which is the companion of power and the

GUIDE-STONES TO COOD CITIZENSHIP 525 mother of success, springs from self-respect. The humblest may say, "To respect myself, to develop myself — this is my true duty in life, an integral and responsible part of the great system of society. I owe it to society and the Author of my soul not to degrade or destroy either m|y body, mind, or instincts I am bound to the best of my ability to give at all times to those parts of my constitution the highest degree of perfection pos- sible. I am not only to suppress the evil but wake the good elements in my nature, and as I respect myself so am I equally bound to respect others, as they on their part are bound to re- spect me." A man with proper ideals will not defile his body by sen- suality nor his mind by servile thoughts. This sentiment car- ried into daily life will be found at the root of all virtue, cleanli- ness, sobriety, chastity, morality, and religion. A man's religion is his philosophy of eternal life. Religion is founded on faith in God. Faith is made up of two elements — hope and desire on one side, and evidence and truth on the other. Every person attempting study and progress soon learns that he has limitations and that he is subject to law and order, that he is dependent and not independent. He learns that all scientific research is only the discovery of laws which are al- ready in existence, that no scientist ever made a law — he only discovered it was already operative and that he is subject to it. Thus every research student becomes a man of faith, full of hope and desire, and a keen searcher for evidence and truth. What life is, why it is, and what is man's mission here on earth are problems to be sohed only through faith in God. We all have hope. We all have wishes. We all have desires. And in our most serious thoughts we are constantly searching for evi- dence. There must be some evidence or desire will fail. Faith in God furnishes the evidence. It is the stimulant to make the best effort we know. It is the assurance that we should live the better life. It is the power to which we may appeal for help. It is the comforter in case of disappointment or trouble. It stimulates the best that is in us and squelches the worst. It is the help we need for self-discipline. It is the guide to honesty in our living. It is the promise of reward which prompts us to industry and effort. It is Life Eternal and points to the goal of eternal progression. Logan, UtaJi Life Eternal "Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal." — 2 Nephi 9:39.