The Golden Rule

"The Golden Rule" is something I first remember learning in second grade in a music class. I remember saying something mean to one of my classmates. The teacher then told me about "The Golden Rule". She told me "Treat others how you would want to be treated." I have pondered that phrase quite often ever since that one day in music class. Is it a true statement?

I firmly believe that this statement is 99% true. I have had many experiences in my life where I have treated someone poorly and in return, was treated poorly. I have also had many instances where I had helped someone out through a trial and in return, I was treated with great respect.

I remember one classmate during my freshman year of high school. This young man always had a smile on his face and always had something kind to say about everyone. And he never had anything rude to say about anyone. He was always uplifting people and making them feel better. I had a ton of respect for this classmate. He made an impact on hundreds of peoples lives just by smiling and being friendly to everyone. He made them happier. In return, how do you think he was treated? He was greeted by everyone with a warm smile on their face.

My favorite scripture in the Bible is in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
"1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

My favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon is in Moroni 7:45-47:

 "45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."

Whoever is found with charity at the last day, it shall be well with him. I love that! It also says "..Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all.."  I know that without charity, which is the greatest of all, we are nothing. Jesus Christ gave us the two great commandments in Matthew 22:36-40:
"36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

 38 This is the first and great commandment.

 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

The two great commandments both have a similar word in them, love! Show charity and love towards everyone, INCLUDING YOURSELF, and you will obey all the commandments of God.

If we show charity and love towards all of our brothers and sisters we will be received with love by our brothers and sisters. And we will be received with love by our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. At the very beginning I said "The Golden Rule" is 99% true. Even if we have charity towards everyone, we will still encounter unhappy people. And even if we are treated rudely, we should still treat them with love. I know that if everyone in this world had charity towards everyone it would be a much better place.

Jesus Christ set that perfect example by loving everyone. We need to follow that example. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Jesus Christ willingly suffered tremendously so that He could live with us again. Are we going to reject that wonderful gift? After all he suffered? I love my Savior, and my Heavenly Father. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.