Treating Others as You Would Want to Be Treated

Since I was a kid, my mom has always shared something called the Golden Rule, the moral principle of treating others the way you want to be treated. I have always seen my mom apply this rule to her life. I have never seen her be mean or disrespectful to anyone; instead, I have seen her being kind and nice, treating others with love. That was a powerful example for me as I grew up.

When I joined the Church, one of the things I loved the most was the thirteenth Article of Faith, especially the line that says, “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” It has always been on my mind, and I try my best to live by it.

Our words are very powerful and have a significant impact on people, especially those we care about most. If we tell our family and friends how much we love and care for them, they will feel love and appreciation. However, if we tell them bad things, they will feel bad or unloved.

A simple word can change a person’s life. I remember one of my friends, who was sad and had a rough day. I smiled at her and said, “I am proud of you; you are more capable than you think. The Lord knows that, and He loves you.” That took less than a minute, but it completely changed my friend’s day and mood. She was happy afterward, and it did not cost me anything.

I want to finish with one of my favorite phrases: “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” If you always tell people kind words in a nice, loving way, it will make their day better, and you will be more like Christ, which is our aspiration.