The M. I. A. Slogan for 1930

The M. I. A. Slogan for 1930 This address prepared and delivered by Cyril Curtis, an Eagle Scout of Downey, Idaho, P or tneuf Stake, won first place in the M Men's public speaking contest. — Editors. IN the midst of all the problems that confront us as Latter-day Saints, surely no problem is of greater magnitude than the "Pres- ervation of our Heritage." What an inspiring and timely theme! In discussing this all-important subject I wish to treat upon three points: First: Of what does our her- itage consist? Second: How has our heritage come to us? Third: What must we do to preserve and enlarge upon our heritage? "MOW to get back to the first -*-^ point. Of what does our heritage consist? Could we not say that it consists of all that has come to us from our forefathers, both of a spiritual and temporal nature? From our forefathers we have inherited strong, healthy bodies. The Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness and power is ours as an inheritance. No people in all the world have received such wonderful blessings as have the Latter-day Saints. I wonder if we realize what our heritage means to us? Perhaps we would better appreciate its value if we take up the second point of the discussion which is: How has our heritage come to us? Briefly we may say that it has come through the toil and sacrifice of others. No great good has ever been accomplished without great effort, unselfish love and sacrifice on the part of someone or some group of persons. The Master himself is the greatest example that we have. His life was one of trial and suffering. His sac- rifice was supreme, and he left to us our greatest heritage, even the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must not forget that both in former and in latter days our spiritual heritage comes to us sanctified through blood and tears. Our political heritage is the re- sult of ages of toil for freedom and liberty. It is hallowed and glorious. It took the noblest Cyril Curtis minds, and cost the best blood of the centuries to bring it to us. Were it not for the brave, cour- ageous souls of past ages we might still be under bondage of serfdom, forced to bow as slaves to nobility, forced to toil, forced to worship. Do we appreciate what our de- mocracy means and are we willing to do our part in preserving it? TJ[7E have the heritage of our vv wonderful bodies simply be- cause our progenitors lived a higher law, a law that if obeyed prom- ised them that they should "run and not be weary," that they should "walk and not faint," and that "great treasures of knowl- edge" should be theirs "even hid- den treasures." It took ideals and perseverance on the part of our parents tc build and keep their bodies strong and pure. They were non- indulgent and temperate in their habits. They sacrificed their appetites and selfish desires that their bodies might become fit abodes in which a godly spirit might dwell. Our bodies have been bought with a price, and are a blessed inheritance. It is our sa- cred duty to keep them pure and undefiled, for "he who defiles his body, him will God destroy." Indeed we have a glorious her- itage; it has come through the toil, suffering and sacrifice of many gen- erations. Our paramount duty, then, is to preserve and enlarge upon it, which brings us to the last point of this discussion. The first is: Of what does our heritage consist? The second point is: How has it come to us, and the third, last and most important is: What must we do to preserve and enlarge upon our heritage? TF we expect to preserve our her- ■** itage we must obey the same laws and principles that brought these blessings to us. We are said by the world to be a peculiar peo- ple. Our heritage has made us so. We must maintain our identity and peculiarity, even if it does cause persecution, for it is a great blessing. It is the result of the habits and ideals that we pursue, of the principles that we teach and the laws that we obey. In the final analysis, the preser- vation of our heritage depends solely upon our willingness to obey the law. We must obey the laws of the land, and teach law observance in the home, the school and the church. This teaching must be done by example, as well as by precept. We should create love and respect for law, and should elect and support officers who will enforce the law. Only by obedience to law can our polit- ical heritage be preserved. TF we expect to preserve and per- pctuate strong, healthy bodies we must live in harmony with the laws of health. We make a mis- take when we say that we break the laws of nature and therefore suffer ill health. We do not and cannot break the laws of nature, but rather we disregard the law and nature breaks us; and so it is with all the laws of God. If we maintain our spiritual her- itage we must inculcate in our hearts a knowledge and testimony of the Gospel. Testimonies have been the motive power by which (Continued on page 644)