Get Out of
Debt President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
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In
the April 1937 conference, President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., anticipated
the possibility of even harder times than those already experienced
during the Depression: "What may we as a people and as individuals
do for ourselves to prepare to meet this oncoming disaster, which God
in his wisdom may not turn aside from us? First, and above and beyond
everything else, let us live righteously, fearing God and keeping his
commandments, that we may, in part, claim his blessing as of right,
and not as of mercy only. Along this way only lies happiness and salvation
... Let us avoid debt as we would avoid a plague; where we are now in
debt let us get out of debt; if not today, then tommorrow. Let us straitly
and strictly live within our incomes, and save a little. Let every head
of every household see to it that he has on hand enough food and clothing,
and, where possible, fuel also, for at least a year ahead. You of small
means put your money in foodstuffs and wearing apparel, not in stocks
and bonds; you of large means will think you know how to care for yourselves,
but I may venture to suggest that you do not speculate. Let every head of every household aim to own his own home, free from mortgage. Let every man who has a garden spot, garden it; every man who owns a farm, farm it. Let us again clothe ourselves with these proved and sterling virtues-- honesty, truthfulness, chastity, sobriety, temperance, industry and thrift; let us discard all covetousness and greed." (President J. Reuben Clark, CR, April 1937, p. 26) |
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