honesty

When we are really honest with ourselves we must admit our lives are all that really belong to us. So it is how we use our lives that determines the kind of men we are

Doubt, rather than faith, is high among the causes of the religious boom. And the church's response to this current situation will reveal, better than anything else, our faith in God - or our faithlessness. If we churchmen interpret such pervasive doubt as a threat, then we will do as the church has done so often in the past: we will substitute the church for God, and make our church-centered activities into an ersatz kingdom of God. Our faithlessness will be evident in the easy paraphrase of the hard truth of the gospel, and in the lapse from the critical loyalty that God requires of us, into the vague and corrupting sentimentalism that has so marred American Protestantism. Or the church can interpret the present religious situation as a promise, as God's recall of His people to a new reformation. Our faithfulness to God-in-Christ will be manifest in the willingness to be honest with ourselves and with the gospel. Then we may view the church, not as an end in itself, but as the point of departure into the world for which the Son of God died. Which will it be?

Give me six lines written by an honest man and I will find something in it with which to hang him.

KEYS OF UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE: (Detail) 1. Read the Bible - over and over - again and again. By repetition you will gain familiarity with the stories, with the characters, with the authors, with the teachings and doctrines and, most importantly, with our Lord and Master. "If we are to know God, we must read His words, for therein He stands revealed to the honest in heart." Bishop J. Richard Clarke, General Conference, Oct.'82. 2. Ponder, Pray and Seek the Spirit. Most important above all others! Seek always to have the Spirit with you. ". . . the things of God knoweth no man, except he has the Spirit of God." 1 Corinthians 2:11. Listen to that "still, small voice." 3. Use the New LDS Edition of the King James Version..."The most significant event in Bible publication in over a hundred years," Daniel H. Ludlow. Forget other translations. 4. Use & rely on the JST, for clarification. Especially as foot-noted in the New LDS Edition of the King James Version. Mark the JST footnotes throughout your Bible. 5. Don't get "hung up" on individual words. Don't be distracted by archaic spellings and usages or "little words" that might not be correct. Read for the Meaning and for the Story while relying on the Spirit. 6. Use commentaries & dictionaries for background . . . history, local customs & traditions; (Use the Bible Dictionary & Maps in the LDS Edition). For doctrinal interpretations, use the scriptures themselves and prayer along with the writings of inspired scholars. "Don't drink from the stream below the horses." 7. Study individual scripture passages in context with all others which are pertinent as to time and doctrine. 8. "Rightly divide" between literal and figurative. Study inspired writings of latter-day apostles and prophets. 9. Modern scripture sheds true light on the ancient. Footnotes and Topical Guide will help. 10. Become familiar with ancient biblical literary styles. Learn some of the basic elements of Israelite writing such as: parallelism, chiasmus, figurative imagery, and dualism. 11. Learn Hebrew and Greek. [For the very ambitious.]

About a veteran player thrown out trying to steal second: There was larceny in his heart, but his legs were honest.

Don't make misrepresentations to anyone you deal with. If you believe the other person may have misunderstood you, correct any misunderstanding you find exists. Honesty is integral to ethical behavior, and trustworthiness is essential for good, lasting relationships.

THANKSGIVING O my Lord, my Lord, I thank Thee for that I am, that I am alive, that I am rational: for nurture, preservation, governance: for education, citizenship, religion: for Thy gifts of grace, nature, estate: for redemption, regeneration, instruction: for calling, recalling, further calling manifold: for forbearance, longsuffering, long longsuffering towards me, many times, many years, until now: for all good offices I have received, good speed I have gotten: for any good thing done: for the use of things present, thy promise and my hope touching the fruition of the good things to come: for my parents honest and good, teachers gentle, benefactors always to be had in remembrance, colleagues likeminded, hearers attentive, friends sincere, retainers faithful: for all who have stood me in good stead by their writings, their sermons, conversations, prayers, examples, rebukes, wrongs: for these things and all other, which I wot of, which I wot not of, open and secret, things I remember, things I have forgotten withal, things done to me after my will or yet against my will, I confess to Thee and bless Thee and give thanks unto Thee, and I will confess and bless and give thanks to Thee all the days of my life. What thanks can I render to God again for all the benefits that He hath done unto me?

The method of "postulating" what we want has many advantages; they are the same as the advantages of theft over honest toil.

God works wonders now and then; Behold a lawyer, an honest man.

Honesty's the best policy.