Trust
Utah State University
Jon M. Huntsman School of Business Graduation
Logan, Utah May 3, 2008
This is the commencement address that Elder L. Tom Perry, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, prepared for May 3, 2008, when he spoke to the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. While he modified his prepared remarks as he spoke, he agreed to let us share this copy of his printed remarks on our web page.
It has been almost 60 years since I had the honor of putting on a cap and gown for my graduation from the school of business at Utah State Agricultural College. I marvel at the changes which have occurred since that date. Even the name of the school has changed.
We were an interesting graduation class. Our average age was older than I would guess, of any class who has graduated before or after this date. Most of us had a five year delay between our freshman and sophomore year. We had been off to war. I believe we were a special group of young men and young women and even Tom Brokaw, well known anchor for NBC, thought so, for he called us the greatest generation in his book, "The Greatest Generation." The author of the jacket comments: "Tom Brokaw goes out into America, to tell through the stories of individual men and women the story of a generation, America's citizen heroes and heroines who came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to build modern America. This generation was united not only by a common purpose, but also by common values-duty, honor, economy, courage, service, love of family and country, and, above all, responsibility for oneself."
Tom Brokaw wrote: "At a time in their lives when their days and nights should have been filled with innocent adventure, love, and the lessons of the workaday world, they were fighting in the most primitive conditions possible across the bloodied landscape of France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, and the coral islands of the Pacific. They answered the call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded on every front. They won the war; they saved the world. They came home to joyous and short lived celebrations and immediately began the task of rebuilding their lives and the world they wanted. They married in record numbers and gave birth to another distinctive generation, the Baby Boomers. A grateful nation made it possible for more of them to attend college than any society had ever educated, anywhere. They gave the world new science, literature, art, industry, and economic strength unparalleled in the long curve of history. As they now reach the twilight of their adventurous and productive lives, they remain, for the most part, exceptionally modest." (Jacket)
The great lesson we carried with us from our war experience was there on the battlefield I learned the value of trust. We trusted the nation who sent us to war. We trusted the commanders who assigned us to battlefields. We trusted the Navy who carried us to the foreign fields of conflict. We trusted the officer who sent us forth to fight. We trusted the friend who was by our side in the conflict so much that we would do every necessary act to save each others lives. It was a lesson in trust which we would carry into the rest of our lives.
When I accepted this assignment, I was at a loss of what I could say to a class of this age and generation. After all, I have been away from the daily contact of the business world for 36 years. My reading materials had changed from business journals to scriptures. I decided I needed an update on the business world today. I sent out several e-mails to friends who hold major positions in universities and American corporations. The responses have been most interesting. I have formed some interesting opinions from the responses that I believe you would be interested in as you now face new challenges ahead of you.
Jon M. Huntsman sent me a nice reply to my request for ideas. He was also kind enough to send me a copy of his book, "Winners Never Cheat." I might add this book is great reading for any graduating class in business. Since this school carries his name, a quote from him would be appropriate for this graduating class. He writes:
"Together with our academic learning and our family/church service, we must be deeply concerned with how one another thinks and how we make a decision with respect to our teachings of morality and brotherhood. Today our environment is more complex than ever before. We are living in an unbalanced petro world and financed by petro dollars. This again has never happened in history. The domination of certain countries and cultures that produce oil has a disproportionate degree of influence in important global matters. Thus, there is a great tendency to tell people what they want to hear instead of what is morally or ethically right or wrong. People are frightened today. The cost of energy is extremely high, unemployment is up, and the housing market is dramatically down. This is the most important time in history for each of us to utilize our all-important moral compass in making decisions and in governing our respective lives. The element of trust is essential in everything we do in the world of economics and business. Our decisions and our very own character are severely tested during times such as this, and we can do no greater favor to one another than be men and women of total integrity. Sir Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain during its most trying period in all of history, suggested that all other human traits dwarf in comparison to one's own character."
It was interesting to me that each person who responded to my request, commented on the need for trust in the business world. In our increasingly fast moving and more complex world there are always opportunities for individuals to play fast and loose. They like to play to activities that produce quick windfalls and often take advantage of others who try to play fair according to the rule established by good business practices. This fast moving world has heightened the temptation for people to play the game with their own set of rules. However, there will always be the law of the harvest. "Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward" (D&C 6:33). This is a law that will never be repealed. It is true today and will be in the future. We can assure you that those who succeed in business will be those who develop a well-earned reputation for trust.
Added to the message of trust from these business leaders came another perspective from Clayton Christensen. He said, "Many of our young people who seek careers in business frame the career as doing deals, not in terms of building people and organizations. Yet it is the building of people that promise the greatest rewards."
Christensen told of a small start-up company that was very successful. Initially, the concern was if the company didn't succeed, how would the mortgage and the bills get paid. The founding partnership later realized how it affected the lives of its 40 employees. A lot of mortgages and rental payments were being paid, groceries purchased, and other bills paid.
His concluding statement was: "Management is a noble profession if it is practiced as it should be practiced; because you can build organizations where every employee can leave at the end of the day feeling like they've accomplished important things; feeling appreciated; having contributed to other's success; having learned; and having grown."
Quoting Edmund Burke: "When ancient opinions and rules of life are taken away, the loss cannot possibly be estimated. From that moment, we have no compass to govern us, nor can we know distinctly to what port to steer" (Edmund Burke, The Works of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, Reflections on the French Revolution, 1834, p. 410).
How the world needs a leadership which can, above all, be trusted. The trust in the leader of our nation is at an all time low. The trust in this great nation of ours throughout the world is at an all time low. I believe you are the last generation which could change the climate and bring about a trusted leadership. I believe future generations will not have developed the people skills to effect the required change. The next generation is developing ways of communication which are so impersonal. The cell phone and the text messaging have made it possible to communicate without ever having to look a person in the eye. The mouth and the eyes have been replaced by the thumb. As this grows, the opportunity to build confidences and trust will be ever more difficult. Don't take me wrong. I love my Blackberry. I could not live without it to accomplish the challenges I face each day. These are wonderful tools as long as they do not replace the person to person associations.
I have a personal example I would like to tell you about which taught me a great lesson about the special contribution people can make in our lives.
(Insert commuter story)
Armed with a character of absolute trust and added to that noble virtue, a warmth and a genuine feeling and interest in the lives of others, you have, in my opinion, a combination which will ensure a successful business career.
Oh, how this troubled world needs balanced and effective leadership today. You are the best trained and the most capable this world has every known. My generation is ready to turn over the title of the greatest generation to you. The world is so ready for you to assume that title.
Now, go out and earn it.
God bless you in your search for fulfillment and happiness in this great wonderful world of ours.