I deprecate the tendency that appears to be increasing among the young Latter-day Saints to rather earn a livelihood in an easy manner, by the use of the pen at the bookkeeper’s desk, or the use of the scissors behind the dry goods counter, than to go out and assist in the great colonization that devolves upon this people. I do not feel that it is the duty of the Latter-day Saints to seek their own ease. The man who chooses a life of ease rather than one which will bring himself and his muscle in conflict with the sterility of the soil, does not develop within his heart the love of God as much as does the pioneer who goes forth with a desire to build up Zion materially.
– Abraham O. Woodruff (October 1899)
This very much reflects the attitude of my great-great grandfather, Bent Rolfsen Larsen, who was raising children during this period of our history. His oldest son wanted to study art, his father thought it was a terrible waste and that he should do something useful and be a farmer. That son did go on to study art and even studied in Europe. He returned and taught for many years at BYU. His name was B.F. Larsen, and one of the art galleries in the Harris Fine Arts Center at BYU is named after him. I always got a kick out of how it all turned out.
Bravo, B.F.!
Well I certainly have muffed it
It is said of Abe, that “Upon completion of his studies, Woodruff became employed in a bank at the age of 18. …After his mission, Woodruff returned to work at the bank. … he was called by his father as an apostle at the age of 24. … Like other apostles, he helped establish settlements and stakes throughout the area.”
Perhaps his comment grew out of experience that he attributed to the nature of his bank work and of his work establishing settlement rather than to his age and experience. If so, it may be classic confusion of correlation and causation or a comment on himself more than others.
A CPA friend has informed me that his muscles work just fine getting him to and from his car and to and from the dinner table. I doubt Abe worked as a “bookkeeper”/accountant during tax season. It doesn’t look to me like seeking “ease.”
Almost enough to make me reconsider my life choices, but instead I stayed at my desk reading about Elder Woodruff’s life (Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia). When I first read the quote it had a “kids these days” vibe, but from the date he would have been in his late twenties then, and in the past six or seven years gone from life as a bank clerk to missionary (where incidentally, he worked as a day laborer to avoid being identified as an Elder during the day, and taught in secret at night), then to being an Apostle in charge colonization. Wow.
But the person with scissors at the fabric counter IS helping materially, at least to those who are sewing, daily sewing.
:groan: