We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow, the admonition of Paul. We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. (Article of Faith #13, emphasis added)
I believe in being honest.
I want to be 100% honest with myself, with God, and with those around me.
As I did a little yesterday, I’m going to study today about honesty, which is also the topic of Step 1 in the Addiction Recovery program.
Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me. (D&C 97:8)
I feel the key to showing God and others that I love them is to be honest. Keeping the commandments is a way to show God I love Him. There are always those times when I can justify behavior by saying, “No one will know…” This is the opposite of honesty.
I believe [honesty] to be the very essence of the gospel.
In Acts, it shares a story that reminds me of myself in some ways. It’s about telling a partial truth:
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
“And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
“But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
“Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
“And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost. …
“And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
“And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yeah, for so much.
“Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? …
“Then she fell down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost.” (Acts 5:1–10.)
President Hinckley goes on to say:
Was there ever adultery without dishonesty? In the vernacular, the evil is described as “cheating.” And cheating it is, for it robs virtue, it robs loyalty, it robs sacred promises, it robs self-respect, it robs truth. It involves deception. It is personal dishonesty of the worst kind, for it becomes a betrayal of the most sacred of human relationships and a denial of covenants and promises entered into before God and man. It is the sordid violation of a trust. It is a selfish casting aside of the law of God, and like other forms of dishonesty, its fruits are sorrow, bitterness, heartbroken companions, and betrayed children.
I know how important it is to be honest.
I feel the person I can be honest with first and foremost is myself.
Yesterday was a good day. I worked pretty hard and got quite a bit accomplished. During the day I went to Iggy’s and watched the World Cup, USA vs. Belgium. While I was there, I saw girls who were dressed a bit immodestly. Just being in the situation was a bit uncomfortable.
When I got back, I told B about how I felt and that places like that weren’t the best for me now, or maybe ever.
I think at first it made her sad. She realized that is where my heart has been for so long. But after we talked things through, I feel we became even closer and a fragment of trust may have been built because I was honest: honest with myself, honest with her, and honest with God.
I don’t want to be dishonest. I don’t want to have a hard heart. I don’t want to be untrustworthy.
I’m excited to submit my will to God today and do everything I can to be honest in my dealings.
Hasta manana!
Nate
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