Our Perfect Example

Our Perfect Example by President Henry B. Eyring covers a lot of thoughts that I have been pondering lately.

He states that "the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must expect to become better as long as we live." Which brings me to ask my self: Am I better today than yesterday? What do I need to do? What should I be doing? Lately I have been focused on making sure to say my prayers in the morning and evening, and reading a verse in the morning and before bed. I was telling Brad last night how great that has been for me, however now I feel I must challenge myself again.


I loved this statement: "the greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. And the sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love. "

It is so true. We need to stop being selfish. How funny it is that society and Satan say that we need to defend ourselves above all things because no one else will defend us. Who says we need defending?

"but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. " (Matthew 5:39) and "I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; "(Matthew 5:44)

In fact we are specifically told: "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? " (Matthew 6:25)

So there is no need to be prideful or defensive or offended ... these are things we should live without. We should all be positive, loving and generous. That is what Christ has shown us is right.

My thoughts have been on this statement as of late: “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”5

President Eyring points out that "It is the only one of the Ten Commandments with a promise."

I think daily about this scripture and though I have read through the Topical Guide on the subject I still do not feel that I am close to grasping this commandment or what it means in my life. I have started by watching my actions ... would my parents be proud of me if the knew I did this? or said this? And I have been pondering ... to which parents is this commandment referring? My Mom and Dad or Heavenly Father and Mother? Does it really matter? My thoughts still ponder this commandment and its better application in my life.