~ Reputation ~
Contributed by Kathi
"The Importance of Reputation" by Elder O. Leslie Stone
If you were asked the question, �Why is it important to keep the commandments and live the teachings of Christ?� what would your answer be?
Perhaps many of us would say, �To gain eternal life.�
That�s right, to gain eternal life. But for whom? For ourselves? Yes,
that�s part of it. But Christ taught, �For whosoever will save his life
shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the
gospel�s, the same shall save it.� (Mark 8:35.)
We should focus, not on serving ourselves, but on serving our fellowmen,
thereby losing ourselves in the service of our Heavenly Father, his work
and his glory. In order to be most effective in our service, we need to
put our own lives in order. Then, as we live the gospel, our lives will
reflect the righteousness and virtue, and we will be a powerful influence
for good in the lives of others. This is why it is not enough to be
righteous for the sake of our own salvation. We must let our goodness
radiate to others, that through our example and reputation they will lift
their lives and have the desire to follow the Savior�s pattern of living.
As we go about our daily activities, we�re often being judged by our
fellowmen. Some of these judgments may be just, and some may be unjust.
We can�t always control what others think of us, or how others judge us,
but we can control the kinds of messages we send out through our
behavior. We should do all we can to establish for ourselves a worthy
reputation, for such is of priceless worth. It is often the key to
influencing others for good, and can be the means of bringing the gospel
into their lives.
The importance of what a good reputation means was emphasized to me when
I entered into business many years ago with a great business leader. Our
plans were to start a new wholesale business. He was to furnish the
capital, and I was to furnish the management. After we reached an
understanding he wrote me a check for a very large amount of money, and
then he said, �If the business is a success, you will get all the credit;
and if the business fails, you will likewise get all the credit.� He then
went on to say, �Should the business fail, you will lose more than I
will. I�ll only lose money, and I have more of that; but you will lose
your reputation, which is much more valuable than money.�
Fortunately for both of us, the business was successful.
I prefer not to think of reputation as a superficial facade, attempting
to indicate depth where there is only shallowness, honesty where there is
deceit, or virtue where there is unrighteousness. Rather, I like to think
of reputation as a window, clearly exhibiting the integrity of one�s
soul. It is through this integrity of thought and integrity of conduct
that we become pure and holy before the Lord. It is in this state that we
can be most effective in serving our fellowmen.
Christ taught us to be other-centered. It is not enough for us to live
the gospel inwardly; we need to be shining examples to all with whom we
come in contact. In this sense, it�s not only what we are that�s
important: what others think of us is also important. In order to be
truly effective as missionaries, we need to be known for our good
qualities, to have an unspotted reputation in all things.
I would like, for example, to be known for my dependability�for being
honest and upright in all my dealings. I would like to be known as a man
who meets his financial obligations on due date or prior thereto, a man
whose word is as good as his bond. I would like to be known as one who is
trustworthy and as one whose loyalty is unquestionable. I would like to
be known as one who keeps the commandments and one who is fully committed
in helping to build the kingdom of God.
Sometimes we hear a comment like, �What does it matter what I do? It�s my
life, and I can do what I want with it.� It may be true that we are the
ones most affected by our own actions. But in this life, no man is an
island; every mortal�s life is intertwined with others� lives. It is not
possible for a person to represent only himself. Every individual
represents certain other people or groups of people as well. For example,
we are all representatives of our own families, and the reputation of a
family is established through the actions of individual family members.
President George Albert Smith told the story of a time when he was
seriously ill and had traveled to St. George, Utah, to see if it would
improve his health. He became so weak that he could scarcely move. In his
account he recalled: �One day, under these conditions, I lost
consciousness of my surroundings and thought I had passed to the Other
Side. I found myself standing with my back to a large and beautiful lake,
facing a great forest of trees. � I realized, or seemed to realize, that
I had finished my work in mortality and had gone home. I began to look
around, to see if I could not find someone. There was no evidence of
anyone living there, just those great, beautiful trees in front of me and
the wonderful lake behind me.
�I began to explore, and soon I found a trail through the woods which
seemed to have been used very little, and which was almost obscured by
grass. I followed this trail, and after I had walked for some time and
had traveled a considerable distance through the forest, I saw a man
coming towards me. I became aware that he was a very large man, and I
hurried my steps to reach him, because I recognized him as my
grandfather. � I remember how happy I was to see him coming. I had been
given his name and had always been proud of it.
�When Grandfather came within a few feet of me, he stopped. His stopping
was an invitation for me to stop. Then�and this I would like the boys and
girls and young people never to forget�he looked at me very earnestly and
said: �I would like to know what you have done with my name.�
�Everything I had ever done passed before me as though it were a flying
picture on a screen�everything I had done. Quickly this vivid retrospect
came down to the very time I was standing there. My whole life had passed
before me. I smiled and looked at my grandfather and said:
'I have never done anything with your name of which you need be
ashamed.�
�He stepped forward and took me in his arms, and as he did so, I became
conscious again of my earthly surroundings. My pillow was wet as though
water had been poured on it�wet with tears of gratitude that I could
answer unashamed.�
President Smith continued to say, �I have thought of this many times, and
I want to tell you that I have been trying, more than ever since that
time, to take care of that name. So I want to say to the boys and girls,
to the young men and women, to the youth of the Church and of all the
world: Honor your fathers and mothers. Honor the names that you bear,
because some day you will have the privilege and the obligation of
reporting to them (and to your Father in heaven) what you have done with
their name.� (George Albert Smith, Sharing the Gospel with Others,
Deseret Book Co., 1948, pp. 111-12.)
Not only do we represent our families, but each of us belongs to a
community, state, province, or nation whose collective reputation is
based on the actions of individuals. Many of us represent the business or
organization from which we earn our living. Students represent the
schools which they attend. As members of the Church we all represent the
Church through our actions. What is our message?
We have a special sacred responsibility. When we are baptized, we take
upon ourselves the name of Christ. Each week as we partake of the
sacrament, we renew this covenant with our Heavenly Father, to take upon
ourselves the name of his Son, to always remember him and keep his
commandments, that we might always have his Spirit to be with us. (See
D&C 20:77.)
Through baptism we become members of Christ�s family. We bear his name.
We represent him here on earth as holders of his priesthood and as
members of his kingdom.
We have the privilege to represent him to others, to bear his message to
his children throughout the world, to be missionaries. We have the
responsibility to be worthy of his name, to represent him well in every
way, to every person we meet�to so live that our lives are Christian
sermons in operation. For Christ has said:
�Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,and glorify your Father which is in heaven.� (Matt. 5:14-16.)
As we build our character, our light will shine brighter, and our outward
reputation will become but a reflection of our inward self; then will our
reputation be one, both before God and before our fellowmen.
I know through many years of experience in both Church and business
affairs that it is highly important to maintain a good and worthy
reputation in all that we do.
I testify that in order to obtain real joy and happiness in this life and
be effective servants of the Lord in helping to build his kingdom, we
must build and retain a good reputation. This can only be accomplished by
repenting of our sins and living the principles of the gospel, thereby
keeping the commandments of God.
Home
(New Era, Feb. 1978)
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