1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $14 + 3 \times 18 - 4$. 2. **Recall the order of operations:** Multiplication comes before addition and subtraction. 3. **Calculate the multiplication first:** $$3 \times 18 = 54$$ 4. **Substitute back into the expression:** $$14 + 54 - 4$$ 5. **Perform the addition and subtraction from left to right:** $$14 + 54 = 68$$ $$68 - 4 = 64$$ 6. **Final answer:** $$64$$