Every Good Thing

February 28, 2025 Leave a comment

Image: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

As the celebration of Easter nears, it is appropriate to remember that Jesus Christ has taught us how to “lay hold upon every good thing” (Moroni 7:20).  After all, He is the Author of every good thing.

Fifty-five years ago, in Palmyra, New York, esteeming His example, I was baptized in the same way and by the same authority as Jesus Christ was baptized, nearly two thousand years before in the Holy Land.  My baptism was followed by the same divine blessing, the gift and companionship of the Holy Spirit.

Since then, giving heed to the inspiration of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit has allowed me, in every momentous decision of significant and lasting consequence, to make the right choice.  I have been enabled to perceive what was wise, what was right, what the Lord would advise me to do.  The vision and inspiration are from the Savior, but choice is left to me to make.  The consequence of the right decision has been joyful.  As Christ’s prophets have taught, those anciently, and those in our time in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we exist that we might have joy, and Jesus Christ helps us find it.

For example, one category among many has been my career.  I can say that I am grateful for the jobs that I wanted and did not get.  Instead, in each case, I was blessed with a better one, on a career path fairer than what I had envisioned.  The Savior has been my best career counselor.  It has been, knowing my thoughts, as if Jesus Christ were to say, that is fine, but I have something more for you.  And so it has been and continues.  

Now in what is called retirement, I labor for joy above any salary, with my eternal companion as my colleague.  Together we are privileged to prepare for the ways of heaven, serving in one of Jesus Christ’s holy Temples.  To get there, the first big step I took fifty-five years ago, in Palmyra, New York.

Thinking on such things is appropriate as Easter nears, to celebrate that Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice and resurrection, made all good possible and placed it within our reach.

Filed under baptism, choice, Easter, Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, joy, resurrection, retirement, revelation, Temples Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Of Good Banking and the New Year

January 9, 2021 Leave a comment

Photo by bamagai at Unsplash

A year in retirement can give you perspective, particularly a year fraught with ample opportunity to do some good amidst challenge, risk, and danger of various flavors.  Such was the year behind us.  Does the year ahead offer any less?

Many such thoughts were brought to mind in a recent conversation with the chief financial officer of a community bank.  As you would guess, we discussed the outlook for banking.  I observed that the condition of the industry reminded me of the dot-com bust of 2000.  While the economy was in decline, hit a second time by the terrorist attacks of September 2001, the banking industry was thankfully in strong financial condition.  The dot-com bust had a securities market and Silicon Valley locus.

As in 2001, so also today, the banking industry is strongly capitalized, liquid with financial resources, well positioned to fund economic recovery.  Fortuitously, that position is matched by a host of potential customers, especially entrepreneurs eager to start up new businesses or expand ones that survived the government-led shutdowns.  Among those entrepreneurs are many people whose businesses closed not from bad business plans, but due to the Great Cessation of 2020.  That is to say, there are people who want to start new businesses who know how to run businesses, if government strictures will let them.

Their problem is one of resources exhausted by trying to keep their businesses floating as the tide went out.  As the tide is coming back in, there is a ready supply of people who would like to have a go with a new boat.  Good bankers have always been in the business of finding and funding good risks. 

Banks grow as their customers and communities grow.  Good banking fosters and facilitates the generation, management, preservation, and application of wealth. 

Bad banking bleeds wealth, which is why failed banks should be allowed to fail, to end the drain on the economy and to make room for the productive work of good banks, new and old.  Good bankers do their work by insightful weighing of opportunities and risks, tailoring terms and conditions to such opportunities and risks.  Bad banking either mistakes opportunities, or it miscalculates or ignores risk, or both.  Which, by the way, is why governments should stay out of the business of banking (other than as prudential supervisors), as the history of government shows an atrocious record of missing opportunities and miscalculating risk, sometimes for the short-term benefit of government’s associates.

The other day I saw a happy video from the chief executive officer of a southwestern bank.  Her timely message was of gratitude to the bank’s customers for constant communication and support.  In return, she offered a reaffirmed invitation apropos to serving in a way tailored to customers’ financial needs.  Reach out to the bank, including its CEO, 24-7 for financial service.  In conclusion, she pledged the bank to “connect you with others in our community who can serve you best.”  Now, that is good banking.

Filed under banking, economic growth, Great Cessation, markets, prosperity, retirement, statism, wealth Tagged with , , , , , , ,