LOGAN, UTAH
Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Utah State University during its commencement ceremony in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday, May 3. He also spoke about trust to graduates of the Jon M. Huntsman Business School during their convocation in the Spectrum later in the day.
Elder Perry was born in Logan and graduated from USU, then Utah State Agricultural College, in 1949 with a degree in finance.
Elder W. Eugene Hansen, an emeritus General Authority, received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the commencement ceremony.
To the business school graduates, Elder Perry spoke of being in their position almost 60 years earlier and told of his experience in the military and at the university.
"We were an interesting graduation class," he said, noting that they were older than usual graduates.
"We had been off to war," he continued. "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."
Then Elder Perry said, "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 other's lives. It was a lesson in trust which we would carry into the rest of our lives."
Since he has been out of the business world for 36 years, he said he prepared for his address by e-mailing friends holding major positions in universities and American corporations.
"It was interesting to me," Elder Perry said, "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 rules established by good business practices."
He said, "How the world needs a leadership which can, above all, be trusted."
The graduates he addressed face the problem of developing communications that are impersonal, specifically cell phones and text messaging.
"These are wonderful tools," he said, "As long as they do not replace the person-to-person associations."
Elder Perry concluded, "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 ever 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."