Most Worshipful Grand Master, Worshipful Masters, Brethren all, Good Morning. It is a pleasure to be here this morning to talk for just a bit about why we are all here today.

I think we’ve all been in a situation where we have heard, or probably said ourselves something like “In a Hundred years, who’s going to Care”? Well Brethren, the answer to that question is why we are here today. Each and every one of us has either personally known, or known of someone that was born and lived in the 19^th Century, and into the 20^th Century. Some even had the opportunity to know people who were born in the 19^th Century and lived into the 21^st Century. Most of us here today will never see the 22^nd Century, but it is for those Masons, the Masons of the 22^nd Century and those for centuries beyond that we are here for today.

When you think about the responsibility we have to the Masons hundreds of years from now, it’s almost incomprehensible. To think that a decision we make today, or next week, or next year could impact those that won’t even be born until we’ve been gone for hundreds of years really shows that in a hundred years, someone will care. Someone will open the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, someone will open the minutes and read about what we have done, and they will care. Will they be proud? Will they be appreciative of the decisions and actions we take, or will they wish we had gone another direction? We can’t know the answer to these, but what we can do, is ensure that what we do now is what we feel, or know to best for our Lodges.

Imagine back in time if you will, those first brothers that petitioned other Grand Lodges, such as Kansas, Montana, Missouri and Nevada for their Charters to open Masonic Lodges here in Utah. The Officers and Members of Wasatch, Mt. Moriah, and Argenta that made the decision to form the Grand Lodge of Utah. The decisions and actions of those men affect us today. Did they know they were creating Lodges and a Grand Lodge that would be truly Young and Vibrant in the 21^st Century? We have to assume that if nothing else they had a hope and a belief that what they were doing would carry well into the future.

Some of the decisions they made over a Hundred years ago have little influence on us, while still others affect us a great deal. Take for example when the Grand Lodge was formed, we were chartered as “Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons”, but at the turn of the 20^th Century we changed to “Free and Accepted Masons”. The only real impact that decision has on us today is almost nothing more than a bit of Utah Masonic Trivia.

Those same Masonic Leaders made the decision to construct this beautiful Masonic Temple. I don’t think I’ve met a person whose stepped foot in this building that hasn’t been awe struck at the magnificence and beauty of this Jewel of ours. I like most of you, have a sense of Pride in this Building.

These two beautiful things, Masonry in Utah, and the symbol of Masonry in Utah we enjoy because of the decisions made over a Hundred years ago. However, today we are left with finding ways to keep the Grand Lodge solvent, and finding ways to restore this building because of decisions that were not made at the same time. This isn’t to say that what the leaders at that time decided was right or wrong, it just goes to show how decisions made back then truly do affect us today.

Imagine if you will what the financial condition of the Grand Lodge would be today, if an endowment fund was set up at the time the Grand Lodge was chartered? Chances are, we would not be facing per capita increases like we are today. But, now there is an endowment fund, it isn’t in place to help us today, but it will be there to help those that come after us.

Today our Lodges are faced with many of the same issues that they faced a hundred years ago. Memberships, fulfilling the promise of Freemasonry, Dues, are just a few. How are we going to address these issues? How are we going to ensure that this wonderful fraternity is still here and that our Lodges are still viable not only to our members, but to the community a hundred years from now?

The answer to these questions is why we are here. Today we have a great opportunity as leaders of this fraternity to learn from each other, to gather new ideas, and to share our ideas. The beautiful thing about this is that there are so many ideas, all we need to have is an open mind to new ideas, and the possibilities are endless. Then it is up to us to put those ideas into action and see what happens.

Throughout the day, think about some of the challenges your Lodges are facing. You may be surprised how many other Lodges are either facing the same challenges, or have already met the challenge head on. Some Lodges are struggling with membership, if your lodge is struggling with this, take the opportunity to talk to members of other lodges that have met that challenge and are on an upward swing. If your Lodge is considering a Dues increase, like many are, then take this opportunity to talk to those that have recently taken an increase. The knowledge that can be gained is absolutely priceless.

Brethren, the events of today are for you, take advantage of what is being offered, but more than that, don’t hesitate to offer your ideas. This leadership conference, and the different break out sessions are not a series of lectures, they are moderated forums to discuss the direction and future of our Lodges and our Grand Lodge. Remember, we are not here to change Freemasonry in Utah, but we are here to guide it into the future, and if it evolves to meet the needs of our brothers, then that’s ok.

Finally Brethren, Have fun today. Someone once said that if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing. We are all here because we know Masonry is worth it, so have fun at it. Please enjoy your experience here today, and as you leave here, and take back to your Lodges the ideas you gathered here today, remember that there will soon be a Mason born who will be here in the 22^nd Century and they will care.

Thank you for listening, please enjoy your day.