Day 8 - Guard Speech

Day 8  (April 14, 2011)

      Question:   How do I guard my speech?

      Read:

      D& C 88:121

      “Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings.”

      3 Nephi 12:33-37

      33   “And again it is written, thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths;

      34   “But verily, verily, I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

      35   “Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;

      36    “Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair black or white;

      37    “But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever cometh of more than these is evil.”

      Matthew 5:11

      “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”

      Ponder:  I will speak only kind, uplifting thoughts to everyone I talk to today.

      I actually did check some of my speech yesterday, but I was not totally successful in this area.  There were people whose paths crossed mine that I could have said kind things to, but I didn’t.  So it was more a case of omission rather than commission.  I tried to be upbeat at work, which was a challenge given the testy mood my boss was in.  And I guess that’s the real test – can we continue to speak only kind, uplifting thoughts to people who are grumpy, or people who are ranting and raving about something (although if I’m in a real good ranting and raving, it’s really aggravating to have someone refuse to rant and rave with me), or someone who is seriously down about things – actually all negative behaviors.  But it is possible to be supportive without resorting to the same level as someone who’s simply having a bad day.  We don’t all have to have bad days with that person (though it definitely puts a damper on the day, doesn’t it?).