On My Honor

Hello Everyone!

This week I was waiting for church to start as we had to be there early for a meeting, but were only required to sit in for the first 10 minutes or so.  We went and sat in our usual spot and I grabbed a bible to read for a short while before people began trickling into church.  While perusing the different books I decided upon reading in the book of Ecclesiastes.  

I read the first few chapters and quickly noted that The Preacher was a huge fan of the word vanity, but despised it's connotations.  Looking past the fact that everything is vanity I began reading in the 5th chapter and not too far in I found myself pausing at the 5th verse, which reads:

"Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."

What a wonderful tidbit of information.  This short verse packs a similar punch to a parable told by the Savior during his Earthly ministry:

"A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.  And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first."

(Matthew 21:28-31)

Here we have two scriptural accounts, one posed by The Preacher, and one from The Savior.  They both serve to highlight the importance of keeping commitments and being true to your word.  Imagine how idealistic our society would be if everyone were perfectly honest and true to their word.  Nobody would ever bother to lock their doors, nobody would ever be cheated out of a job opportunity, and nobody would have to worry about things not being finished when they are needed.  And if we were perfectly honest and true to our commitments, then we would have no issues keeping the covenants we made at the time of baptism.  

This is where honesty and integrity truly show their worth: when we put them in the context of the eternities.  When we are baptized, we covenant with our Heavenly Father to keep his commandments and live his standards.  We are promising to do what he asks so that he can bless us with happiness and lasting peace.  But unfortunately we are not perfectly honest and true at all times.  But making honesty a habit will aid incredibly in preventing sin, and will make repentance all the easier for us when we do sin and fall short.  We should seek to be true in all of our dealings, encounters, and experiences.  This habit of being honest leaves your shoulders unburdened by the load of lie and deceit.  Seek to be like Nathaniel, a true man "in whom is no guile!" (John 1:47)

To close this post I would like to share a quote from an address at BYU from President Spencer W. Kimball:

"Keep your promises, my young people. Maintain your integrity. Abide by your covenants. Give the Lord, this year and every year, your high fidelity and fullest expression of faith. Do it “on your honor,” and you will be blessed now and forever." (On My Honor, Sept 12, 1978)

I hope that you all have a great week!

Elder Gailey