W. W. Taylor "The Power of Example"

 The contributor was a monthly periodical of the LDS church between 1879-1896. It was founded by Junius Wells and was primarily for the Youth organizations at the time. Below is an article from an 1880 issue, written by W. W. Taylor.

How easy it is to talk. To quote Brother Millen Atwood's favorite phrase: " Talking is the easiest part of our religion," or in other words, to tell others how they should perform their duties. Yet with all the advice that is given, how much 'of it is practically applied?

There seems to be a natural desire in man at least to be considered good, and to have the reputation of exercising a good influence over others, and whether this is the cause for it or not, a disposition to teach or advise others very generally exists. How naturally the question arises: "Does he practice what he preaches?" and what a difference in the effects of his teaching does the answer have.

The Elders in going abroad to preach to the nations of the earth, told the people that God had restored the Gospel. What effect would their teachings have had, if they had gone forth and said: This is only an experiment with us, we think that if a people sufficiently large could be congregated and they would embrace such and such principles, certain results might follow.

But this was not the message they bore. They said: " We have obeyed the principles that we teach, and we know that they are of great value to mankind, because they have benefitted us, and for the sake of offering these principles to those who were unacquainted with them, we were willing to leave home and friends that all who desire it may enjoy the same blessings that we have enjoyed through our obedience. And though in so doing, we may be regarded by the majority of the people as impostors and false teachers, that does not weaken our testimony in our own estimation, for we have obeyed the doctrines we teach, and know whereof we speak.

What a weight such testimonies, coupled with scriptural and reasonable requirements, would have with the honest in heart, and how much it would be appreciated by such, compared with the cant and hypocrisy and uncertainty of the doctrines taught in the world!

As members of Mutual Improvement Associations, we frequently hear it repeated that by seeking the Lord in humility, we can obtain the same testimonies, that our parents have taken so much pleasure in bearing, until we quite often hear the same instructions given by the young themselves to each other, in their meetings for mutual instruction; which is all right when such instructions are given in a proper way and under a proper influence. But may we not ask the same question of the young as we would of those of maturer years: "Are you teaching from experience? and if so, how do the principles that you teach affect your own life ? "

If a young man, urging his companions to seek the Lord, with a view to obtaining testimonies of the Truth, and a knowledge of the Father's will concerning him, can say: "I took the course I recommended to you, and I enjoy the results that are promised." His words would have more effect than those of another person, young or old, who simply taught what they had heard some one else say, but had never realized themselves.

As an illustration: There are certain blessings promised through observing a Revelation called: " The Word of Wisdom." A young man being desirous of obtaining the blessings promised through obedience to the counsel therein contained, follows the instruction given and finds that the promised results follow, and are of great benefit to him. He feels a desire to impress the truth of the principle upon others. What can be more forcible than such teaching? Where the results of the course indicated are shown in the life and conduct of the teacher; giving evidence that he does not talk for the sake of being heard, but because he wishes others to enjoy the same blessings that have attended his own obedience.

If such qualifications are necessary to those who teach the young people of God, is it not as essential that they should seek to qualify themselves, on the same principle, to teach the Gospel to the nations of the earth? Because we have been benefitted through our obedience to principles that the world does not understand.