It is so refreshing to have someone share in complete honesty. And its so so important in this day, to share with complete honesty- you never know whose heart you might touch!
I found myself relating to a lot to the way she thinks.
In a recent post, she shared about her personal experience with hypocrisy within the church.
She discovered that some people close and/or around her were hypocritical. She found that the reasons (she and I) had been taught about Temple attending, Prayer, church attendance, service, callings.... were taught to us by those were doing them for the wrong reasons.
Their actions were righteous, but the reason and drive and purpose in doing them were all wrong.
Which sounds like a small detail.... Until you become an adult, and find that your whole way of thinking- your whole understanding is twisted.
To hear that some are taught that we should attend church, serve our callings, even pay tithing in fear of appearance or what "others might think" is awful. Yet, that was my understanding for a very long time, too.
As I got older, I discovered that there were those within the church who were "keeping face." That people were attending church only in fear of what others might think!
That people believed and would pay tithing only because "they were supposed to." And even some who considered serving a calling as a "glorified and prestigious position."
It is only in these past few years of "adulthood" that I have learned the true meaning of obedience, and have re-learn why.
It kind of goes along with "riding the coat-tails" of someone else's testimony.
It will only take you so far, and in the long run, you'll find that you are hurting yourself.
I admit that in the past I rode on the "coat- tails" of other people's testimonies. I thought that being a "chameleon" and mirroring righteous acts was the same thing as being righteous.
It is not.
And I admit that my faith was tested when I saw people living hypocritically. People close to me, people I looked up to, people who were supposed to be an example to me...
And I admit that I was in a similar position: I made mistakes that negatively affected those around me.
Through repentance and personal prayer, I developed a relationship with Heavenly Father, and that has made all the difference.
I also came to understand a basic principle: We are here to be tested, and there are powers around us trying with a great force to lead us astray.
I am forever grateful to the people in my life who have helped me, shown me, taught me truth. That although we are not perfect, we need to have a clear understanding about honesty.
We are not commanded to be perfect, but we are commanded to be honest in our dealings with our fellow men.
That includes our appearance. To appear to be "righteous" and yet be hypocritical is to live a lie.
I think the phrase "It's never too late to....." is especially important to remember here. Though we may have given a false image, lied, whatever the case may be, it is never too late to turn around and try again.
Rosemary Wixom shared a quote recently that I 100% relate to!!
"If I could rewrite my life story, there are a few chapters that I wouldn't include that were written, but I must live on..."
s Yes! There are A LOT of chapters that I would love to "rewrite" but then again, that would be a lie! They happened, but I have learned from them, trend to Heavenly Father for help, forgiveness, council, love, guidance and direction, advice, etc. And I am all the better for it. We are here to receive a body, be tried and tested, and turn to our Heavenly Father for help through it all, so that we may live with Him again.
