Recently I have read or heard the words “be true” a lot. Be true to yourself. Be true to your faith. Be true to your friends and associates. Be true to your family. President Gordon B. Hinckley, the late President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or the Mormon Church as it is commonly known) spoke often on being true. I found a wonderful talk given by him in a General Young Women meeting, in which he spoke to the young women of the Church. Since this phrase has been appearing in my life time and again lately, I thought I would like to learn more of what it means, and perhaps how being true could help me live a happier, more fruitful life.
Mormon beliefs can be summed up in thirteen points of doctrine, or articles of faith, as we call them. The thirteenth article of faith states:
“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 Paul—We 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.”
First, we must be true to ourselves. Each of us has a conscience that speaks to us and helps us discern the difference between right and wrong. When we do the wrong thing, we can feel it. Likewise, when we do the right thing, we experience feelings of happiness and peace with ourselves. President Hinckley said, “To be true to ourselves meaning being an example of righteous living in all situations and circumstances” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Stand True and Faithful,” Ensign, May 1996, 91.)
Being true to ourselves, also means being honest. In school, at work, or in our dealings with our fellow man, we must never cheat or steal. The old adage goes “honesty is the best policy” and it is as true today as when the wise person first said it. Even the finger of the Lord wrote on tablets of stone: “Thou shalt not steal. … Thou shalt not covet” (Ex. 20:15, 17.)
President Hinckley also suggests that we must be true to ourselves in matters of personal virtue. In the Doctrine of Covenants, a collection of modern day revelation, the Lord said by way of commandment, “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly” (D&C 121:45.) The Lord knows that we cannot even think about immoral things because evil thoughts lead to evil deeds. However, if we will keep our thoughts, and our actions clean, we will be worthy of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, and we can stand with confidence in the presence of our God. Think what happiness it would bring your heart, your soul, to know that God can look upon you and be pleased because you have nothing of which to be ashamed.
“Be true to yourselves and the best you have within you” President Hinckley said. We are children of a Heavenly God. We are his royal children. Be true to your divine heritage. If we can remember who we are, that we have an intimate relationship with God because He is a loving Heavenly Father, we can finally claim the happiness that is rightfully ours as His heirs. Be true to all that you were created to be. Be true … and be happy.
