Good Moring brother and sisters, Essays - Conscience, Personality

Good Moring brother and sisters, I was asked by Brother Larkin to speak on the 13 th article of faith . I found a talk from the October 2013 general conference by Ann m. Dibb. The thirteenth article of faith is a guide for righteous . Imagine for a moment what our world would be like if everyone chose to live by the teachings found in the thirteenth article of faith: "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of PaulWe believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." Today I would like to focus on two closely related principles in the thirteenth article of faith that definitely help "keep us safe and on cours e." I have a strong testimony and commitment to the important principles of being honest and being true. First , "believe in being honest." What does it mean to be honest? The booklet " True to the Faith " teaches, "To be honest means to be sincere, truthful, and without deceit at all times." 2 It is a commandment from God to be honest, 3 and "complete honesty is necessary for our salvation." 4 President Howard W. Hunter taught that we must be willing to be strictly honest. He said: "Several years ago there were posters in the foyers and entries of our chapels that were entitled Be Honest with Yourself.' Most of them pertained to the little, ordinary things of life. This is where the principle of honesty is cultivated. "There are some who will admit it is morally wrong to be dishonest in big things yet believe it is excusable if those things are of lesser importance. Is there really any difference between dishonesty involving a thousand dollars or that which involves only a dime? Are there really degrees of dishonesty, depending upon whether or not the subject is great or small?" President Hunter continues: "If we would have the companionship of our Heavily Father and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, we must be honest with ourselves, honest with God, and with our fellowmen. This results in true joy." 5 When we are honest in all things, big and small, we experience peace of mind and a clear conscience. Our relationships are enriched because they are based on trust. And the greatest blessing that comes from being honest is that we are able to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I would like to share a simple story that has strengthened my commitment to be honest in all things: "A man went one evening to steal corn from a neighbor's field. He took his little boy with him to sit on the fen ce and keep a look-out, so he could give warning in case anyone should come along. The man jumped over the fence with a large bag on his arm, and before commencing to take the corn he looked all around, first one way and then the other, and not seeing any person, he was just about to fill his bag. [The boy then called out]: "Father, there is one way you haven't looked yet! You forgot to look up.'" 6 When we are tempted to be dishonest, and this temptation comes to all of us, we may suppose that no one will ever know. This story reminds us that our Heavenly Father always knows, and we are ultimately accountable to Him. This knowledge helps me continually strive to live up to this commitment: "believe in being honest." The second principle taught in the thirteenth a rticle of faith is "believe in being true." The dictionary defines the word true as being "steadfast," "loyal," "accurate," or "without deviation." 7 Being true to our beliefseven when doing so isn't popular, easy, or funkeeps us safely on the path that leads to eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Being true also allows us to have a positive effect on the lives of others . I've

Free Essays on Maya Angelu

Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born under the name Marguerite Johnson, but her brother Baily renamed her Maya. Her parents, Baily and Vivian Baxter Johnson, got divorced when she was very young. Maya grew up in a very racist town. There were many problems in her life, in which she describes in her autobiographical novel â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings†. At the age of 16, she became pregnant, while experimenting if her sexual preference was males or females. She had to get numerous jobs to support herself and her son, Clyde, who was later known as Guy. In 1952, she married a man named Tosh Angelos, but due to his atheist ideals, which grew to be unacceptable to Maya’s religion, the marriage soon ended. In order to have money to support herself and Clyde, she was forced to become a dancer and a bar girl in a strip joint. After she got enough money, she moved to New York and sang at various clubs. Maya started her writing caree r in New York with the Harlem Literary Guild. She made contracts which led to her recognition as a producer, director, and performer. In 1960, she married a South African freedom fighter, Vusumzi Make. They both got jobs as editors of the Arab Observer. The marriage ended three years later, and Maya moved to Ghana. She felt at home for the first time of her life. This is when she started her first writings. Maya was nominated for an Emmy Award for her acting in â€Å"Roots† and â€Å"Georgia, Georgia†. She also received a Pulitzer Prize Nomination for her poems â€Å"Just Give Me a Cool Drink ‘fore I Die† (1971) and â€Å"And Still I Rise† (1976). Being President Bill Clinton’s favorite writer, he asked her to write and deliver a poem for his 1993 presidential inauguration. She also wrote a poem for the â€Å"Million Man March†. â€Å"On the Pulse of Morning† became a best-selling book on 20 January 1993. Now, Maya is a Reynolds professor of American Studies at Wake Forres... Free Essays on Maya Angelu Free Essays on Maya Angelu Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born under the name Marguerite Johnson, but her brother Baily renamed her Maya. Her parents, Baily and Vivian Baxter Johnson, got divorced when she was very young. Maya grew up in a very racist town. There were many problems in her life, in which she describes in her autobiographical novel â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings†. At the age of 16, she became pregnant, while experimenting if her sexual preference was males or females. She had to get numerous jobs to support herself and her son, Clyde, who was later known as Guy. In 1952, she married a man named Tosh Angelos, but due to his atheist ideals, which grew to be unacceptable to Maya’s religion, the marriage soon ended. In order to have money to support herself and Clyde, she was forced to become a dancer and a bar girl in a strip joint. After she got enough money, she moved to New York and sang at various clubs. Maya started her writing caree r in New York with the Harlem Literary Guild. She made contracts which led to her recognition as a producer, director, and performer. In 1960, she married a South African freedom fighter, Vusumzi Make. They both got jobs as editors of the Arab Observer. The marriage ended three years later, and Maya moved to Ghana. She felt at home for the first time of her life. This is when she started her first writings. Maya was nominated for an Emmy Award for her acting in â€Å"Roots† and â€Å"Georgia, Georgia†. She also received a Pulitzer Prize Nomination for her poems â€Å"Just Give Me a Cool Drink ‘fore I Die† (1971) and â€Å"And Still I Rise† (1976). Being President Bill Clinton’s favorite writer, he asked her to write and deliver a poem for his 1993 presidential inauguration. She also wrote a poem for the â€Å"Million Man March†. â€Å"On the Pulse of Morning† became a best-selling book on 20 January 1993. Now, Maya is a Reynolds professor of American Studies at Wake Forres...