THE TRUE MEASURE OF A MAN

I have often said the true measure of a man is how he conducts himself when he is angry.
It is easy for a man to conduct himself in a noble manner when all is going well.
It is also very easy for a man to fly off the handle and loose his composure, his cool, his religion, when things are not going his way.
May I submit to you the true measure of a man is watching him conduct himself with character and nobility when all is amiss.
In this hour is when the true measure of that man is revealed.

Jesus Christ showed anger when he ejected the money changers from the Temple.
There is Righteous anger.
But far too often men of Nobility (Priesthood Holders) exercise unrighteous dominion because they are not sufficiently prepared spiritually before the battle.
When I was about 13 years old I witnessed a young Member of the bishopric cut his hand wide open. It required over 30 stitches to repair the damage. when it happened all I heard was Oh man I just tore my hand open on this wire.
What an impression that had on my little mind as a Deacon.
Great warriors are not made in the heat of battle.
Great warriors are formed in the non heroic silent silent personal moments as they hone their skills in their years of training and preparation.
When a soldier is trained he is taught to perform in a specific manner without giving it any thought.
His reactions are automatic much like a programed autopilot.
May we choose to train our minds and spirit to become our autopilot.
It is through our Personal time alone with our scriptures and the Holy Spirit when we hone our spirit to meet the battle of every day life.
I use this word Hone with purpose.
A honing tool takes out the rough edges and creates a precision cylinder in an engine. An engine from the factory is fully honed new but as it goes through life little abrasives (sin) wear away at the cylinder and rings leading to engine failure. (spiritual death) I use spiritual death because someone can become spiritually dead with or without the gospel. Everyone has a conscience,(the light of Christ). But the sins of life can damage our precision spirit.
If an engine cylinder is not honed or looses its honing damage results to the engine and the car will not run well. As a visible byproduct is the smoke it leaves behind.
Once this happens the engine must be torn down to have the cylinders honed and have the rings replaced.
The engine block represents our spirit
Our spirit may be damaged but rarely does the Lord Disregard our Spirit
It can always be rebuilt if we are willing to take the time and expense to go through the process.
The only spirits that are disregarded are the Souls whom know beyond any doubt there is a God and actively set out to deny him and destroy his kingdom.
(sons of Perdition)

—2 Thessalonians 2:3-10
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ”

In our life if we do not hone our spirit by abiding by the Lords principals we find ourselves leaving alot of smoke in our wake.
If we continue on this road it eventually leads to a catastrophic engine failure (our spirit) to which there may be no recovery.

In Elbert Hubbard's Scrap book we find some interesting thoughts

The place to take the true measure of a man is nto in the darkest place.
or in the amen corner
nor in a corn field
But by his own fire place

There he lays aside his mask and you may learn whether he is an imp or an angel
a cur or a Kind
A hero or a Humbug
I care not what the world says about him
Whether it crowns him as boss
or pelts him with eggs
I care not a copper what his reputation or religion may be.
If his babies dread his home coming
and his better half swallows her heart every time she ask for a five dollar bill
HE IS A FRAUD OF THE FIRST WATER
Even though he prays at night and in the morning until he is blue in the face

but if his children rush to the door to meet him
and love's sunshine illuminates the face of his wife everytime she hears his foot fall
You can take it for granted that he is pure
For his home is a heaven
I can forgive much in that fellow mortal who would rather have the hate of the whole world
Than the contempt of his wife
A man who would rather call anger to the eyes of a King
Than to see fear in the face of a child.

WE HAVE THUS BEEN TAUGHT IN

THE CHURCH OF
JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER DAY SAINTS

NO OTHER SUCCESS CAN COMPENSATE FOR FAILURE IN THE HOME

It is my prayer that we can learn to be wise and faithful so we may become a Truly Honed Precision instrument in the Lords hand.