11 Ideals

Recently I have been listening to Truman G. Madsen's lectures on the Presidents of the Church.  These lectures are exceedingly well done, and exceedingly rich in testimony, and true teaching.  

Today I happened upon Brother Madsen's lecture about President George Albert Smith.  When he was 34 years old, George Albert Smith made a list of resolutions that he called his “personal creed”—11 ideals that he committed to live by:

1. I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.

2. I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.

3. I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind.

4. I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life.

5. I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.

6. I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.

7. I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends.

8. I would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend.

9. I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father.

10. I would not be an enemy to any living soul.

11. Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty but also a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth.

President Smith lived up to these ideals of a Christ-like life, and has inspired me to strive to do the same.  These are simply excellent guidelines toward developing a Christ-like character.