A couple weeks ago I accompanied a
friend to her Worlds Religion class here at BYU. In the class, a small religion
in India, Jainism, was the subject of conversation. During the class, the great
vows of Jainism were discussed. Ascetics of Jainism undertake five major vows
that serve as guidance in their life of service. As we discussed these vows, it
prompted the thought within me: What are my vows? What are my code of ethics? Over
the last while, I have been trying to gather my thoughts on the subject and
develop my own code of ethics. I chose a handful of words, or adjectives, I would like to be known by and expounded from there. The following is what I came up with. It will be
refined and further developed. It is not perfect, but it is me. Enjoy!
Go placidly amid the noise, for
the noise is ever growing. Garner and develop attributes that are becoming of a
son of God and an emissary of His message. Stay true to yourself, no matter the
consequences or opposition.
The centrality of faith to succeeding in this life cannot
be overstated. To have faith is to have confidence in someone or something.
Faith in God. Faith in family. Faith in humanity. Faith is an action word, and
as such, precedes miracles. Be a man of faith, unwilling to flinch in the face
of the adversary. Instead, seek to continually increase your faith and the
faith of those around you. Faith is a key to progress. Cherish and strengthen
it.
Do everything in your power
to uphold, support and strengthen your family.
Everything. Family is the most important institution in the world. When stuff
hits the fan, as it inevitably will, there will be times when family are all
who will stand with you. Never do anything to jeopardize the strength of
those relationships. While immediate family will forever take precedence,
always remember we are all members of the same eternal family. Act accordingly.
Be humble. Always. You are a child of God and, therefore, are of a
royal lineage. However, without God you are nothing. Maintain a disposition of
humility through all circumstance. All good fortune is not a consummation of
your efforts as much as it is a gift from God. Be humbly grateful for those
blessings.
Compassion is the lifeblood of all that is good in the world.
Without it, humanity does not stand a chance. Be compassionate in every
interaction, relationship and facet of life. Do not feign offered compassion,
perpetuate it. Compassion is a key to happiness. We are all equal in the sight
of the Lord and deserve one another’s deepest compassion. Show everyone the
pure love Christ would.
Strive for excellence in every aspect of your life. To lift others, you must
first stand on higher ground. Never get caught meandering in the maze of
mediocrity. Strive for perfection in everything you do, great or small. The
world deserves your best effort.
Surround yourself with greatness in everything you do.
Associate with those who demand your very best and instill in you a desire to
continually improve. Surrounded by greatness, your potential is endless.
Anything less than greatness is an aggravation to your capacity to progress.
Never be afraid to act, for action is how we express our
priorities. Be quick to act, but careful. Never permit action to precede
thought. Appropriate caution and situational understanding are your ally. Do
not settle for inactivity as it is a vexation to progress, both temporal and
eternal.
Be responsible. Be dependable.
Winston Churchill once said, “To each there comes in their lifetime a special
moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance
to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a
tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which
could have been their finest hour.” Your preparedness for that moment depends,
in large part, on the level of responsibility you carry and practice. Be
responsible. Many depend on you.
Respect all you come into contact with, for at their core, all
deserve your respect. Withhold judgment of others, everyone you meet is
fighting their own battles. “In the quiet heart is hidden sorrow the eye can’t
see” (‘Lord I Would Follow Thee’, Hymn 220). Offer nothing but respect. It will
provide strength to those places the eye can’t see.
Be smart in all you do. Seek opportunities to develop intelligence,
for it is intelligence that increases your ability to lift others. Always seek
to understand before being understood. Be smart in your interactions and
endorsements. Be smart enough to know when you’re wrong. Be smart and wise. The world could use more wisdom.
Get lost serving others for that
is where you will be found. Remember, the happiest are not those who get the
most, but rather those who give the most. The more you give of yourself, the
more there will be to give. The greatest measures of happiness are found in
service because “when ye are in the service
of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).
Be honest in all your dealings, both big and small. Remember the truth
will always prevail. Hold your truth dear but speak it clearly when
necessary. Never settle for anything less than sheer, unadulterated honesty.
In the like, do not offer anything less than pure honesty. Say what you mean
and mean what you say. Your word is one of the most valuable assets you have.
DO not depreciate its value with anything short of honesty.
Be patient and trust God. No matter where you are on the journey of
life, know this: all is unfolding as it is intended to. Be patient and work
hard. God will take care of the rest. He’ll get you there.
Lastly, be a fighter. The chorus of one of my favorite songs says, “Give me
scars, give me pain, then they’ll say to me, ‘This one’s a fighter’” (Gym Class
Heroes, Fighter). Fight for truth.
Fight for love. Fight for family. Fight for God. Fight for freedom. Fight for
friends and fight for all of those who can’t fight for themselves. There are
people and things in this world worth fighting for. Never give up the fight!
I know I have been placed on this
earth, and am being prepared, for great things. I know that my God is aware of
me and everything I do. I know that my Savior lives and does so for me on a
very personal level. I know that I have to capabilities to become someone far
greater than I could possibly imagine. All that will be through Him. This
process, of determining my creed, or code of ethics, was wonderful and
eye-opening. It would behoove everyone to do the same. Steal mine if you have
to, but the whole idea comes highly recommended.
LIVE.LOVE.LAUGH.
