20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all–they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.
What characteristics do we need to have in order to be completely reliable, to be true at all times to any responsibility we have been given? At a minimum, I think we need the following:
- Honesty – We need to see things as they really are and to face the realities in our lives, not ignore them.
- Soberness – We need to approach each day with what Quentin L. Cook called “a seriousness of purpose” (“Choose Wisely,” General Conference, October 2014). This doesn’t mean that we can’t have a sense of humor and enjoy ourselves. But the humor and the fun can’t be the main thing. Our top priority needs to be our responsibilities.
- Dignity – We need a sense of individual worth which impels us to be as good as we can be. It is that perspective which inspired Moses to say to Satan, “I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?” (Moses 1:13)
Today, I will strive to follow the example of dependability set by the sons of Helaman. I will focus on being honest with myself, being sober, and living up to my intrinsic value as a son of God.
Hey Paul! This is exactly what I needed today:-)
Thanks for the feedback, Risa! I'm glad to know this post was useful for you.