Thursday, August 9, 2012

The Impact of Example

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In 1 Corinthians 4:2 Paul says that people who are teaching the gospel need to be faithful to the gospel. We also learn, in verses 9-17, that the apostles are specifically chosen to be examples to the people. But it isn't just the apostles that have to be examples. Any baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has taken the name of Christ upon themselves and we have a responsibility to try and live the way He did. We should all be sharing the gospel at all times through the way we live and by our examples.
In the Book of Mormon there is a story of someone who was a bad example in Alma 39. Alma's son, Corianton, was a missionary but he didn't live the things that he was teaching. In verses 11-12 Alma tells Corianton that because of his (Corianton's) bad example the people wouldn't listen to what Alma was teaching. It is so important that we don't just know what is right and then do the opposite because people notice what we do more than what we say. Especially if we are doing the exact opposite of what we say.
There are also great blessings that come to us when we are faithful and obedient to the gospel and what we know. In 3 Nephi 8:1 it talks about a man who was faithful and the way that they knew he was faithful is because he performed miracles in Christ's name. When we are faithful in keeping the commandments people see our example and we are able to do the things that God wants us to do. When we are obedient we can have the Spirit with us and that is when people will see the fruits of living the gospel in our lives.

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