Every Man to His Own Labor – Sunday, September 03, 1944
“What is there illustrious that is not attended by labor?” (Cicero). Thus spoke truly the ancient philosopher. History does not record, nor does scripture, that the Lord God excepted anyone when he said: “Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work.” (Exodus 20:9). In short, honest work is the rightful lot of all men, and there is little satisfaction to those who do not earnestly labor according to their talents and their physical and mental abilities. And since to labor is a God-given command, it may well follow that no man is beholden to another for the right to labor. This is one of the freedoms that must not be overlooked—freedom to work. But men differ as to the kind of work they want to do and are able to do.
Some can perform service that would be impossible to others. Some can write the play; others can speak the lines; some can draw the blueprints; others can build the walls; some can create the design, and others can give it substance. If all men wanted to do the works of a Michelangelo, the world would be filled with exquisite art, and have no bread. If all wanted to build buildings, the world would be filled with empty structures, and have no books to read, no music to hear, and no sustenance for life. And so, every man to his own labor according to his wants and needs, his gifts and talents, his aspirations, and his physical and mental equipment, and according to the needs of his own generation—and let no man stay his hand. As any conscientious parent would readily recognize as stupid and wasteful any attempt in the schoolroom to hold back his able and industrious child to the pace of the dull and indifferent student, so in the daily pursuits of mankind, any influence which tends toward the deliberate slowing-down of the abilities of men may readily be recognized as stupid and wasteful. Unless a man is permitted and encouraged to do his best, he will shrivel within himself, and the world will lose with him.
One may well imagine what would be the result on the battlefield if a soldier’s performance were limited to what might be expected from the more fearful, the less courageous, the less efficient!—if territory gained and enemy ships and planes accounted for were restricted by prior arbitrary rule to the standards of the least willing or the less able! Any influence which deters any man from the constructive use of his full powers is damaging to human character and a hindrance to human progress, for the world is enriched— by the sum of the total constructive labors of all, whether it be labor of the mind or of the hand, or of both, it matters not. “To rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:19). For it is written: “Life gives nothing to man without labor.” (Horace).
Heard over Radio Station KSL and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System, from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, Sept. 3, 1944. Copyright – 1944.
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September 03, 1944
Broadcast Number 0,785