Elder Stephen L Richards

Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles

I'll try three sermons in three minutes. First, a tithing is not a fiftieth or a thirtieth or a twentieth; a tithing is a tenth.

Second, the inflated dollar is worth a hundred cents for one purpose: paying debts.

Third, I knew a missionary once who had marvelous success in the mission field. I asked him something about his method. Among other things he told me that whenever he went to talk to people, however much they tried to get him to digress from his main theme-talk about politics, talk about the weather, current affairs, the crops-he said, "I always politely told the people that I was sent out to talk the gospel to them. I never had time for anything else."

Talent for Friendship

We've been talking about a man during this conference who had a remarkable gift and talent for friendship. I've been with him on many occasions when he met some old friends or business acquaintances. He always had the courage to say, in substance, "John, how's your faith? How are you feeling about the Church?" And I've seen many a man blush a little, stammer a little, and yet be willing to talk with him about his faith and about the Church.

There was probably never a time, my brethren, when we so much needed men who could go out and cultivate a talent for friendship and talk frankly to their own associates in the priesthood who have become careless and delinquent, to their business friends and to their neighbors, about the gospel and give to them the great blessing which we ourselves enjoy. May we make note of the opportunities that lie ahead of us, I pray, in the name of Jesus. Amen.