" . . . and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.

"And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely." (Alma 1:26-27.)In a commencement address delivered at Safford High School in Arizona, President Spencer W. Kimball (then president of the Mt. Graham Stake) spoke of the principles expounded upon in the first chapter of Alma, principles that flourish in an atmosphere of unselfishness:

"Daily unselfish service to others is one of the rudimentary mechanics of the successful life. `For whosoever will save his life,' the Galiean said, `shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.' (Matt. 16:25.) What a strange paradox this! And yet one needs only to analyze it to be convinced of its truth. I know a man whose every thought through three quarters of a century had been for and of himself. . . . He had sought to keep his life for himself, and to gather all the good things of life for his own development and enjoyment.

"And now, as life is ebbing out gradually, he finds himself standing alone, forsaken, bitter, unloved, and unsung; and with self-pity, he can still think of only one person, himself.

"On the other hand, I know another man who has never given thought to himself. His every desire was for the protection and pleasure of those about him. No task was too great, no sacrifice too much for him to make for his fellowmen. His means brought relief from physical suffering; his kind work and thoughtfulness brought comfort and cheer and courage.

"Wherever people were in distress, he was on hand, cheering the discouraged, burying the dead, comforting the bereaved, and proving himself a friend in need. His time, his means, and his energies were lavished upon those needing assistance. Having given himself freely, by that same act he has added to his mental, physical, and moral stature until today he stands in his declining years a power for good, an example and an inspiration to many. He has developed and grown until he is everywhere acclaimed, loved and appreciated. He has given life and in a real way has truly found the abundant life." (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp. 250-251.)