Basket of Rags

Have you ever heard one of those talks, where you can say “We are done. Everything we needed to learn was just taught.” That is how I felt after watching Elder Gay’s talk “Entrepreneurship and Consecration”

That talk summed up everything that needed to be taught in this course. As I watched it and rewatched it again and again, I was drawn to the story of Brother Goddard and the basket of rags. I looked the story up online and read more details of the story. When Brother Goddard joined the church in the 1800’s, he was rejected by his relatives. He and his wife brought their seven children to America and across the plains to Salt Lake City. Four of his children died on the way. After their arrival, he became a leader in the church, and a prominent businessman. At that time, the church needed rags to convert into paper to advance the cause of the church. Rags were hard to come by because the saints barely had enough to keep themselves warm. Brigham Young called Brother Goddard to a “rag mission” where he was to go door to door asking for spare rags. As Brother Goddard said: 

This calling] was a severe blow to my native pride. . . . After being known in the community for years, as a merchant . . . then to be seen on the streets going from door to door with a basket on one arm and an empty sack on the other, enquiring for rags at every house. Oh, what a change in the aspect of affairs. . . . When President Young first made the proposition, the humiliating prospect almost stunned me, but a few moments’ reflection reminded me that I came to these valleys of the mountains . . . for the purpose of doing the will of my Heavenly Father, my time and means must be at His disposal. I therefore answered President Young in the affirmative, and for over three years, from Franklin, Idaho, in the north, and Sanpete in the south, my labors extended, not only visiting many hundreds of houses during the week days, but preaching rag sermons on Sunday. The first time I ever spoke in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, was a rag discourse, and Presidents Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball backed it up with their testimony and enlarged upon it.”

I can only imagine the humility that he had, to do all that he could to further the Lord’s cause. Although he built up a successful business, he was not too proud to go door to door, begging for old rags.

How many times have I been too embarrassed to or unsure of myself when it comes to building the Kingdom of God? It isn’t about us, it’s about what we need to do in order to help others. 

I have included the links below so that you are able to listen to this amazing talk!

https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/html5/html5lib/v2.36/mwEmbedFrame.php/p/1157612/uiconf_id/16585652/entry_id/0_41ffod27?wid=_1157612&iframeembed=true&playerId=kaltura_player&entry_id=0_41ffod27&flashvars%5bstreamerType%5d=auto&&wid=0_pg62tg5h

http://ldsmag.com/article-1-11193/

Questions to answer: 

• Based on what you read in the first two pages (pages 3 and 4), why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?
  
  If people stop trusting the integrity of businesses, they will quit investing in them. The businesses will soon fail, and the economy will be devastated.
  
  
  
• According to Charles Handy, what is the “real justification” for the existence of businesses?
  
  The real justification for the existence of businesses is to do something more or better for others.
  
  
• What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why?
  One solution is to give dividends to those who contribute their skills as well as those who have contributed their money. Another solution is for businesses to measure success in terms of outcomes for others, as well as for ourselves; to associate with a cause.
  
  I agree with these solutions because it is the right way to treat others.