Truth. Always.
“When you reflect on it, most serious sins involve others.” Elder Lynn G. Robbins
I loved Elder Robbins address. He speaks of pride versus honesty and integrity. He speaks about our dealings with our fellowmen, and how we build His kingdom, interact with our fellowmen, and how we fill our time to uplift and build our society.
I have tried throughout my life to be kind, humble, patient (oh, the patience I have developed!) and generous. I know I have a long way to go, but I consider how far I have come from the person I used to be. I never was viscious, but I was quick to judge other people. I was never a bully, but I didn’t try very hard to understand each person as a son or daughter of God.
Now that I am a little older and a little wiser, I have figured out to some small degree, what my interactions with others should look like. Have I done something that eases that persons burden? Said something that will make them smile? Offered a helping hand in freely given service with no expectation of return or reward? I have a long way to go, but I have been learning over the years to be more outward, more giving.
To be this way, I have learned, is to be centered in honesty. I had an experience as a young teenager, that taught me the value of honesty. There was a boy. Yep. My 14-year old self was smitten. But I lied to him, and he found out through another friend. I had thought that my actions were justified because I lied in order to spare his feelings, but I learned that the lie had made things much, much worse. We maintained our friendship, but it never was the same after that, and although we still occasionally talk, it is nothing to what I feel it could have been. My one choice had ruined the foundation of trust that every friendship needs.
This experience comes to mind often. I am reminded of it because it was an intense and painful learning experience for me, and since that time I have tried very hard to never hurt anyone as I did to my friend, and not hurt myself like I did when I lost what could have been an amazing relationship. I now value honesty and integrity – in all its forms from telling the truth, to putting a full days work for a full days wage, to keeping promises – higher than almost anything else.
I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned about being truthful. I am happy I learned young, and am glad to be reminded over and over to be constant in my vow to live a life of honesty. I know that my honesty helps me be a better person, more forgiving, more trustworthy, and better to serve others with full purpose of heart.