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 Fourth,
master the ability to think straight. As Franklin said, "The
foundation of all happiness is thinking rightly." This may
be more important in the future as the world continues to
spiral downward and crumble into moral decay. In my office
hangs a printed statement that includes the last words spoken
by my grandfather, Elder Melvin J. Ballard, before his passing.
He was in the hospital phasing in and out of a coma. My father
said grandfather suddenly opened his eyes and looked into
the room and said, "Above all else, brethren, let us think
straight." A few minutes later he passed away.
That was sixty-five years ago. How much more does the world
need people today who can think straight? Part of thinking
straight is using common sense in solving life's problems.
Lord Chesterfield said, "Common sense (which, in truth, is
very uncommon) is the best sense I know of: abide by it; it
will counsel you best."9
Often in my ministry have I heard the sad tale of those who
are struggling to become self-reliant, but in fact are becoming
more dependent upon others because of the inability to think
straight and apply common sense in their decisions. Much of
life's misery centers in the lack of using common sense. As
an example, consider the pharmacist who was compounding a
prescription that called for as much strychnine as you could
put on the face of a dime. He didn't have a dime, so he used
two nickels.
Helping people think straight and use common sense will, in
my judgment, always be a very important step in helping them
reach economic self-reliance. It is part of teaching our children
and others to walk in the ways of truth and soberness and
to love and serve one another.10
Part of thinking straight is listening—being able to listen
to the promptings of the Spirit.
Fifth, seek guidance from the Lord and trust in Him. In D&C
76:5–10, we learn:
I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto
those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve
me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden
mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to
come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my
will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things
to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding
reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise
shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall
come to naught. For by my Spirit will I enlighten them,
and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets
of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen,
nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.
May the symbol of the light from candles remind us that we
must carry the light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ
to all of God's children. We must, through our provident living,
teach others to emulate the examples of our pioneer forefathers
in lifting themselves up by their own bootstraps, to trust
in the light of hope, and to seek the light of knowledge that
will ultimately lead them to spiritual and economic self-reliance.
God bless you as you reach out to all corners of the earth
through this outstanding Center for Economic Self-Reliance
to strengthen and to bless the lives of our Heavenly Father's
children. May your efforts bring economic self-reliance to
those in need throughout the world and result in lasting,
even eternal, blessings for you and for all of those whom
you serve. I leave you my testimony that the work of this
center will be blessed. The Lord lives, and He smiles upon
your efforts.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER Elder
M. Russell Ballard was called to be a member of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints on 6 October 1985.
As a young man, Elder Ballard served as a counselor to the
president of the British Mission. He has been a bishop twice
and a high councilor in two stakes. In 1974, he was called
as president of the Canada Toronto Mission, where he was serving
when he was called to the First Quorum of the Seventy in April
1976. He served as a member of the Presidency of the First
Quorum of the Seventy from 21 February 1980 to 6 October 1985.
Before being called as a General Authority, Elder Ballard
had interests in automotive, real estate, and investment businesses.
He has served on many civic committees and boards. He married
Barbara Bowen on 28 August 1951. They have two sons, five
daughters, and forty-three grandchildren.
This speech was given 11 March 2004 at the opening of the
Marriott School's Center for Economic Self-Reliance.
ENDNOTES
1 Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and
Auxiliary Leaders, 1998, 257.
2 Ensign, November 1982, 93.
3 Ensign, November 1985, 6.
4 "The Dignity of Self- Reliance," Improvement Era,
June 1909.
5 Moroni 7: 16.
6 Notes by Chris Eyre taken from introduction of Mr. Yunus
by Sam Dailey Harris at a recent conference in California.
7 2 Nephi 2:27.
8 The Art of Virtue, 1986, 88–90.
9 New Dictionary of Quotations, 1084.
10 Mosiah 4:15.
 ARTWORK
Danbury Hills: Man with Scythe by Mahonri M. Young. Courtesy
of Brigham Young University Museum of Art. All rights reserved.
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