Just Be Nice

As I go through life, I develop a list of things that I live by.  Some of them are quotes that have stuck out to me, others are learned from experience.  I call them my philosophies.  I always look for more and more each day.  One in particular I learned in High School.  I was asked how do you get through High School?  The question wasn't referring to the academic aspect of it, but the social.  My response was, "Just be nice."

Ever since then, that's been one of my philosophies: Just be nice.  It seems quite simple, but it really does work.  Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, addresses that same topic.  "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying...And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another."  (Ephesians 29, 32).

Kindness is one of our greatest tools in life, and it's extremely contagious.  Acts of kindness are never wasted.  Keep corrupt communication stopped, and create the contagious kindness wherever you go.  Throughout all of my years, I have never once heard anyone say they wish they were a little less kind.  When you make kindness a priority, you will feel as King Benjamin's people did and "have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."  (Mosiah 5:2).

Look to the Compass

What's next?  It seemed that in my life, there was always something that I was working towards.  I always had a goal in mind, and knew, for the most part, what I needed to do.  First, it was finish high school, then go to college, then go on a mission.  But what's next after that?  Nothing is set in stone anymore. 

No one knows exactly what they're going to happen next.  No one knows exactly how things are going to work out.  But we can always look to the Lord for direction.  Nephi, a Book of Mormon Prophet, shows us that even when we have no idea what we're going to do, the Spirit of the Lord will guide us.  1 Nephi 4:6 reads, "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."  The Spirit will guide us in everything as long as we are putting our trust in him. 

 This makes life a lot less scary.  We have a spiritual compass in our life.  When we don't know where we are, look to the compass.  When we don't know where we're going, look to the compass.  When we don't know how we can make, look to the compass.  God gives us a guarantee if we look to the compass: "And I will also be your light in the wilderness...and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." (1 Nephi 17:13).  If we look to the light the Lord has layed before us, we will know that we are led by him.  When we do this, we can be as Nephi and trust in the Lord, look to the compass, and go forth with faith.