Tell, Speak, Live, and Love

We live in a world that is full of deceit.  More and more we hear of people being swindled by liars, and those who once were only to be trusted are questionable.  It once was that a piece of scrap paper with an IOU on it was good as a man's word.  Now, it's not just stated and certified checks, but you have to have check insurance as well to cover the deficiencies from falsified documents.  Business can't trust their employees and install cameras and use surveillance equipment to protect themselves.  Many of those who marry don't trust each other and they sign prenuptial agreements.  It seems that there is no one to be trusted in the world today.

Where can one find an honest man?  It seems that they have become obsolete.  But how much better would the world be if more of us were those honest men and women?  I believe it can be done, and should be done, one step at a time.  

President James E. Faust said, "We all need to know what it means to be honest.  Honesty is more than not lying.  It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving."

In a new show on FOX called Lie To Me, a group of facial detectives are hired to talk to people and try to tell by their expressions whether or not they are telling the truth.  It is fascinating to me because life is so much easier and better for all involved when the truth is made known.

We can't change the whole world, or convince all to tell the truth always.   What we are capable of doing is becoming more and more honest ourselves, every day of our lives.  Learn to tell the truth, no matter what.  Learn to speak only truth, regardless of the consequences.  Learn to live everyday in truth, and best of all learn to love the truth.

When we take this mantle of honesty and desire to become that honest man, I know that living and loving honesty will become easier.  If each of us become honest, than those around us will learn that they can trust us, and some may even desire to become honest themselves.  We can recreate the wonderful parts of yesteryear, when each of us takes that first step on the path of truth and honesty.

Easter

What a wonderful time it is to experience spring and reflect on the blessings we have received from our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is so appropriate that we watch the perennial tulips and daffodils beat their way through the thawing ground to begin life anew.  Though time makes the flowers die, they again grow into new life in the spring.  Just as time and sickness causes our bodies to age and die, through the resurrection of the Savior we all get the chance to be resurrected, to begin life anew.

I'm thankful for this beautiful season, to watch the world come alive and realize that no matter how hard and long the winter is, the day comes when spring is here, and the world will grow.  No matter what may befall us in this life, the time will come we will all be resurrected and begin our own new life.

You can't speak about Christ's resurrection without noting as well his atonement, his sacrifice that paved the way that we can also overcome our sins and shortcomings, and be worthy to live with Him again.

There is much said about his atonement, and I cannot do it any justice here.  It was the choice he made to follow our Heavenly Father's plan, so that we can not only find true happiness in this life, but that we may be able to attain eternal happiness in the life to come.

At this time, as we watch spring springing and feel the ever growing warmth of the sun, let us all remember the gifts of the Son of God, and with His help, try to become a little better every day.  Have a wonderful Easter!