May 2008 Archives

Following my last final a few weeks ago, i decided to hit up a new "Asian" (Korean) restaurant in Provo that I heard about from Josh. Josh had mentioned going there and being stoked that there was a combination of two favorites: stone bowl bibimbap and spicy grilled pork.

Lately I've heard a lot of hype about investing in "gold". And more recently, I've heard people cry that the sky is falling-- that there are food shortages (rice in China, etc). I haven't really done any homework on those issues. I came across an article this morning that suggested that rising food prices are more a result of greed than of actual scarcity of food. Then I consider the many admonitions that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have received to have what, a one year's supply of food storage? I always imagined as a child that such storage would be for a time of great calamity such as a natural disaster-- earthquakes, fires, etc. But I never considered things as mundane as a simple shortage of food, economic conditions, human greed, etc...

So I put two and two together in recalling some counsel given by Brigham Young more than 150 years ago:

"But pause for a moment, and suppose you had millions of bushels to sell, and could sell it for twenty dollars per bushel, or for a million dollars per bushel, no matter what amount, so that you sell all your wheat, and transport it out of the country, and you are left with nothing more than a pile of gold, what good would it do you? You could not eat it, drink it, wear it, or carry it off where you could have something to eat. The time will come that gold will hold no comparison in value to a bushel ofwheat. Gold is not to be compared with it in value. Why would it be precious to you now? Simply because you could get gold for it? Gold is good for nothing, only as men value it. It is no better than a piece of iron, a piece of limestone, or a piece of sandstone, and it is not half so good as the soil from which we raise our wheat, and other necessaries of life. The children of men love it, they lust after it, are greedy for it, and are ready to destroy themselves, and those around them, over whom they have any influence, to gain it." -- Brigham Young, "Use and Abuse of Blessings" - June 5, 1853 (Journal of Discourses).

Definitely interesting to ponder given the state of the world these days. I mean, have we EVER been  counseled to build up a supply of gold? Yes it's wise to have 6+ months worth of savings in the event of a dramatic change in income (loss of a job, etc). But what good is money in the long run? As President Young said, it's good for nothing, only as men value it. People invest and get excited about the digits on their financial statement, when all that can change overnight. (I love that these ideas support the idea of utility rather than the far too common and flawed financial planning concept of "accumulation"). Just something to think about... How can you REALLY prepare for the days ahead? I submit to you that the question is not "how can I get more money?" but rather "how can I create more value for others?"-- because when the financial systems of the world collapse, it won't matter how much money you have. (Also consider the Law of Consecration...)

Gotta love the weather here. May 1st, and what do we get? SNOW.


It seems kinda cruel of mother nature to blanket these blossoms in snow. Next to them, I don't think Shawn has any room to complain ;)