Contrary to widespread belief, the quote “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times” is not an ancient proverb or classical philosophical insight. Instead, it originates from the mind of G. Michael Hopf, an American author and U.S. combat veteran born in 1970, who included this line in his 2016 post-apocalyptic novel “Those Who Remain,” the seventh book in his “New World” series.
In the early 1970s, scientist John B Calhoun conducted his famous “Universe 25” experiment, creating a “mouse utopia” with unlimited food, water, and shelter. In these ideal conditions, the mouse population grew rapidly before collapsing as social behaviors deteriorated and reproduction ceased. While not a literal prediction, the experiment serves as a powerful metaphor for how prosperity and social disconnection can erode purpose and cohesion in human societies.
American society is not yet in collapse, but fragmentation is evident: deep political polarization, eroded trust in institutions, and fading shared norms. Many retreats into online echo chambers, curating realities that shield them from real-world friction. This produces phenomena resembling Universe 25’s “isolated females” (seen in aggressive or entitled behaviors like “Karens”) and “beautiful males” (withdrawn, self-focused, feminized men).
Both on the left and the right, good times have allowed us to forget what we learned in the hard times that got us through those hard times into the good. Should we not soon turn back, both the left and right will have to relearn.
Hard times have a lot of complications for the weak that created them. Particularly for the LDS priesthood holder. It’s more than just being a wimp. It’s being afraid of change and your shadow. It’s dealing with “woke” ideas and becoming self-sufficient so that you can raise self-sufficient children.
Brothers it doesn’t take that much to change the men in the church. Don’t accept woke ideas. Call out those leaders who are trying to make this church like our government. Remind everyone of the doctrine behind “The family a proclamation to the world.” I’m not saying we should be unkind or mean, but we need to be bold about the truth and about our lives.
Years ago, I lived in a District and a Branch. I was called to the District High Council. I had a District President who was from Minnesota. He and I did not agree politically. But we were friends and enjoyed talking with each other to get that other view. In one particular meeting he would not stop talking about a particular political subject. He wanted to debate and I kept telling him that this was not the time or place for such a discussion. He would not let up and so I finally said some rude things that silenced the room. (The good brother sitting next to me whispered to me, “Now you’ve done it! Good job!”) Most people would not talk to a priesthood leader that way. I would normally not talk that way to my priesthood leader either but I had to jar him back into reality so he would stop trying to talk about inappropriate things in a meeting where other things should be happening. My tactic worked! Later on, I apologized and he said, “You had to shock me back into reality. I know you didn’t have a choice because I was not listening.” I was glad he understood and our relationship was not damaged. Over the years you have learned that you can stand up to a priesthood leader if you do it in a respectful and kind way. Many people will not do this, but a left-leaning leader can do a lot of damage in a ward. Politics doesn’t belong in Church. But many people let their extreme views, left or right leaning, spill into their teaching and speaking at Church. If that view is in opposition to gospel doctrine it must be corrected. The Church has solid stances on Gay marriage, abortion, and gender. I don’t have a problem with the people that believe in opposition to this doctrine, but these points are non-negotiable. And they have no place at Church. Many believe the Church will “come around” concerning these doctrines and that the Church will change. My contention is that will never happen. Policy changes, doctrine does not.
Learning to be a man and then stepping into that role is something that seems to be lacking in some generations. My kids were given responsibility early in their lives. We have a large family and we all needed to help to care for ourselves, and our home. Kids have an amazing capacity. They can do a lot! At 8 our kids learned, and were responsible for, their own laundry. When our Grandkids visit they are given the same responsibility at the appropriate age. Our kids also had chores they got allowance for but also some they had to do out of duty being a member of the family. I made sure they understood that because we do have an obligation to each other as family members.
Teaching boys to be men and raising resilient kids so they don’t have to take resilience classes should be every parent’s goal. The Church now offers resiliency classes, I understand why. It’s taught in seminary now. What the heck? I’m an LDS Seminary graduate but I never had a class or a lesson in being resilient. My Dad fought in WWII. My parents went through that world war and through the Depression. They could handle whatever was put before them. So, they raised us kids to weather whatever storm they were put through. My wife and I were children of the 60’s and 70’s. We were taught how to work and how to survive.
The men of the church need to stop being “nice” and start being men. Being nice is not the same as being kind. We should be kind. Families need to be resilient because Christ is coming. Looking at the signs we know life is poised to be worse. Certain prophecies must be fulfilled and that means things will get worse in this world. We need men who will bear up the church and the gospel. We should be defenders of the faith. It’s hard to defend from a safe space. LDS men should be meek but not push overs. That’s why boys need to be taught to be men.
“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times”
We are moving into those “hard times”. LDS men and boys need to learn what the 3 P’s are from the Proclamation on the Family.
What does it mean to preside, provide, and protect?
That’s what we can talk about and teach. Dirty Civilian focus on the Christian preparedness side. The LDS perspective is similar, but with the priesthood comes a higher responsibility.
Boys (and girls for that matter) need to learn physical work. One of my sons is a computer developer. One is a welder. They grew up the same, but the welder likes physical work for his mind and body. The developer takes care of himself and exercises, but he prefers the more cerebral work of working on software. Both of them (and our daughters and other brothers) moved rocks. When we bought our property there was a large pile of stone with rocks about the size of 2 bricks. We seemed to need this rock pile moved for construction projects and other reasons to move the location of the stone. So, our kids were given so many rocks to move when they got in trouble. We did spank our kids but not that often and even less as they got older. They were given work in addition to the chores they already had. They were given other tasks sometimes and not always rock moving. It was physically hard work, but they knew if they complained they could get more rocks. All my kids know how to work. It’s interesting because the guys my girls married aren’t necessarily DIY guys. So, my girls have tool bags, and they work on things as they need to. Their spouses are getting better, but my girls are hard workers.
One of our family’s sayings is actually from my son-in-law. “Suck it up, cupcake!” With this mindset our children were not raised to need safe spaces and could handle most everything that has been thrown at them. They are resilient. I believe it’s our responsibility as parents to bring up our children to handle life and what it throws at you. To learn from adversity and to become stronger from trials.
There are generations that are soft because their parents wanted things better for them. I understand that feeling but fight it and teach them how to navigate life themselves.
I had a Stake President growing up who was a millionaire. His children did not know until they were young adults. The kids had work at home and jobs to pay for cars and college. Dad could have just paid for it all, but he and his wife wanted resilient, prepared children.
I hope the men in the church can figure this problem out and stop producing unprepared, dependent children. I also hope they can change the way the church does things and stop being so timid about running the Lord’s Church.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
