I think that quote it is still an accurate statement of our times. The ratio of our improvement of the human condition to our total capability is going down. However, I also think that we have done more to improve people’s lives than, perhaps, any other generation. Our capabilities to do good have expanded exponentially due to the amazing advances in technology and communication in the last 100 years or so, but I don’t think our efforts have kept up with the pace. It is one thing to say that the quality of life has improved for millions of people. It certainly has over the last few decades. But improving the quality of life does not necessarily improve the morals, or lack there of, of a people.

We could spend hours discussing this. We could spend days writing about it. We could spend a lifetime researching it. So I don’t think any points you or I could make will be final, all-inclusive, or whatever.

That said, I will respond briefly to what I perceive as your point: that all these accomplishments of humanity mean very little if we simply aren’t good, humble, kind people. Maybe your point is, more specifically, that all these accomplishments of humanity mean very little BECAUSE the world is simply not full of good, humble, kind people. Either way, my response would be similar:

I agree! These accomplishments mean little if we’re not collectively getting closer to God. However, I think we ARE collectively closer to God than some in our culture seem to believe. The way I see it, the kind of progress the world has seen over the past 200 years is not possible without some sort of collective adherence to foundational truths. Ie, you can’t separate these accomplishments as meaningless because they are the result of our world collectively adopting the lessons that, as you said, are far more important than life or death.

For example, in Cambodia and Thailand this summer I realized that Americans take for granted the system of honesty that is so established, expected and enforced in our nation and most other developed nations. Without honesty, the business world would be crushed under the burden of widespread mistrust and betrayal. In my engineering profession trust between companies is HUGE.

For another example, respecting the rights of others as human beings worthy of love, although you rarely hear such words in the political realm, is at the core of international law and international agreements that are being developed to deal with acts of genocide, human trafficking, etc.

Honesty is tied to respect, which is tied to love, which is tied to not hurting others, which is tied to not hurting self, which is tied to hope, which is tied to God, which is tied to everything which is good and wholesome! You can’t separate the good and call some of it meaningless – it all comes from God.

I could go on, but I should get back to work. Are there areas we’ve slid back on? Yes. We can work on those. But again, the way I see it all these accomplishments of humanity have only been possible because we are doing something right.

I’ve enjoyed the comments, guys. I love good discussions like these.

I don’t consider safety, finances, or wars to be anywhere near as important as ego, humility, anger, greed, or personal improvement with respect to God.

Look, over and over again in the Bible and BOM life and death are traded-off for lessons. That is, lessons are far more important than life or death.

So, apparently, when we have a conversation about optimism and fear, I am just looking at a completely different world than you.

I loved the comment and completely agree. I just want to add something.

Apparently Vienna is the second safest city in the world. (Steve, correct me if I’m wrong). It’s at least up there. Anyway, they can drink at 15, smoke at a young age, and there is immodesty on many billboards, and signs. This is a lot more lenient than America, but still it’s one of the safest cities. Yes, morally things could be better, but what I am trying to say is that that does not mean the world is wicked, and getting worse. They are doing something right there.

I feel that LDS culture needs the belief that things are going down hill to assure them that these are the last days. (That may be a generalization). However I will close by a good ol’ copy and paste…

Generations before us have broken their backs to give us what we have today. We must carry on, knowing that the state of the world today is not only redeemable, but also an improvement in so so so many ways.

Whether you believe the world is getting better or worse there is one constant thing in my mind the can and hopefully will make it better, and that is optimism. If we are expecting bad things, and not looking for a brighter future then it will not come. If we look at the negative, (The war, the ‘terror’, the multiple Wal-Marts popping up like daises), then it will always seem to get worse. There is a lot to be done, but there is also a lot being done, by good people, and good society.

When I pose the question to my friends, “how is the world getting more evil?” they are usually at a loss for words, saying, “morally it’s getting more loose…” then I ask them what that means. They usually say something about pornography and explicit TV shows.

I think the doom and gloom culture in our church (and Christianity in general) is counter-productive. If we look at the world, standards of living are rising, infant mortality is dropping, mass warfare is more contained (4000 US and 90,000 civilian deaths in Iraq? That’s a miracle. In Vietnam 60,000 Americans died and 3.5 million Vietnamese. Not to condone the Iraq War, just saying…). I mean, has anyone here had Polio? Does anyone here know anybody with Smallpox? How many modern nations today allow slavery? What about the establishment of international law? Better than it has ever been before. What about open, free-flowing communication and information? The information at my fingertips right now would have made me a king 500 years ago. What about the blessings of the internet and the transparency of government that has ensued? What about the state of the world’s economy? Despite the recent turmoil, we are still MANY folds more at ease today than even 50 years ago.

Too many blessings to count in this age. The world’s getting better.

Remember, as Brigham Young said, it is the Saints’ duty to bring about the Millenium! Let’s take honest stock of our progress and just get to work preparing this world for the Savior. Generations before us have broken their backs to give us what we have today. We must carry on, knowing that the state of the world today is not only redeemable, but also an improvement in so so so many ways.