Kalos Arete

Just as we have tools of every type and function to complete tasks, our Heavenly Father has given us a set of tools to utilize as we go through life’s journey. I know there may be many who read this, that may not know how to pray, or may be rusty in use of prayer. As we strive to utilize this practice of surrendering our day to him, we begin to recognize prayer as our greatest tool. if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray” (2 Nephi 32:8).

According to Merriman-Webster dictionary a statesmen is: “one versed in the principles or art of governmentespecially : one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government or in shaping its policies”. We will learn to hold ourselves accountable, those around us to be better, and in turn our statesmen and stateswomen from our city to our Presidency accountable. If we are those statesmen and stateswomen I call on you to seek virtue, to repent and change, to seek to encourage your constituents to become virtuous as Aristotle so eloquently stated: “What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions”. Let’s strive to be leaders in our families, neighborhoods, and communities like Moroni.

Virtuous men have a better disposition at home and abroad. Virtuous men have a quiet dignity about them derived from an inner strength. I seek to persuade all men to join me today in protecting the fortress of our thoughts. Let us seek to only ponder on virtuous, uplifting thoughts.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seekth not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopethall things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. This world needs men of principle, men of virtues, good fathers, good husbands, and just better men.