During a surgical procedure many years ago, President (Dr.) Russell M. Nelson witnessed something that changed his perspective forever. An out-of-control surgeon, in a fit of rage, threw a scalpel loaded with infectious germs—and it landed in young Dr. Nelson’s forearm. As he reflected on this dangerous moment, President Nelson wondered: “Was the contaminated scalpel that landed in my arm any more toxic than the venomous contention that infects our civic dialogue and too many personal relationships today?”
His question haunts me because I believe the answer is no. The words we throw in anger can be just as destructive as any infected instrument.
The Courage to Say “I’m Sorry” First
In our polarized world, everyone wants to be right. But here’s what I’ve learned: One day someone needs to say “I am sorry, and I need to change”—even if they are right. In fact, it’s more important for the party that is correct and possibly justified to initiate this conversation.
Why? Because when we choose humility over being right, we’re essentially saying, “Even though I may be correct, I love you so much that I am willing to take the blame.” This isn’t weakness—it’s the strongest thing a person can do.
Meekness: The Strength to Change Everything
Christ taught that “the meek shall inherit the earth,” and I used to think this meant the weak would somehow win in the end. I was wrong. Meekness isn’t weakness—it’s having the strength needed to make serious change. It takes tremendous courage to absorb blame you don’t deserve for the sake of unity and progress.
I was blessed to experience this in my construction days, and it’s shaped how we operate at CMI Gold & Silver today.
When Unity Transforms Everything
I once worked for a company with four divisions: metal stud framing, drywall hanging, drywall finishing, and painting. We acted like four completely different companies, constantly making fake back charges against each other. The inefficiency was staggering.
When they promoted me to superintendent over the drywall finishing division, the company president supported a radical approach: I would take responsibility for every issue, regardless of which division caused it. It was hard to do, but I knew in my heart this was the path to success. I sent my crew to fix problems that weren’t our fault, absorbing the budget hits.
Initially, my numbers looked terrible. But something amazing happened at the third billing meeting. While they were criticizing my budget, the drywall superintendent stood up and said, “His budget looks bad because he’s making all of ours look good.”
That moment changed everything. Our company culture transformed overnight. We became unified. Other companies could no longer take advantage of our poor practices because they couldn’t pit us against each other anymore. One person’s willingness to absorb undeserved blame created prosperity for everyone.
Building Wealth Through Trust
This lesson from construction has guided every decision we’ve made at CMI Gold & Silver. In the precious metals industry, trust isn’t just important—it’s everything. When you’re helping families protect their wealth with gold and silver, there’s no room for the kind of divisive practices I witnessed in construction.
That’s why we’ve never operated with commissioned brokers who might prioritize their paycheck over your portfolio. It’s why we answer every call personally and treat each client like family. Peace creates prosperity—not just for us, but for every family we serve.
When markets are volatile and economic uncertainty creates fear, the last thing people need is a precious metals dealer who adds to the chaos with high-pressure tactics or divisive rhetoric. Instead, they need the stability that comes from genuine relationships built on trust and humility.
The Precious Metals Parallel
Just as I learned to absorb blame for the greater good in construction, we’ve built CMI on the principle of putting our clients’ interests first, even when it costs us. Sometimes that means recommending they wait when prices are high. Sometimes it means smaller transactions that serve their budget better than our bottom line.
Like the meek who inherit the earth, precious metals quietly preserve wealth while louder investments grab headlines. Gold and silver don’t argue or create contention—they simply maintain their value through patience and time. There’s wisdom in that approach.
The Challenge
So here’s my question for you: In your family, your workplace, your financial planning—who will be first to say “I’m sorry”? Who will have the meekness—the strength—to choose unity over being right?
Whether you’re building a construction company, a precious metals business, or simply a strong family, the principle remains the same: We will never be better until we become humble and submissive. Not submissive to wrong, but submissive to love. Submissive to the greater good. Submissive to the principle that relationships matter more than being right.
The meek truly will inherit the earth—because they’re the only ones strong enough to change it. And sometimes, that inheritance includes the wisdom to protect what matters most with the quiet strength of precious metals.