There are many creeds and/or codes of conduct that men try to live by. The God of the Old Testament was the great Jehovah or “I Am.” He it was who commanded Moses from the burning bush. He was also the “Word” as described by John, He, it was who under the direction of the Father created heaven and earth and all things that in them are. He it is who is also referred to as the “Son of Man” As He is the first born of our Father, the “Man of Holiness,” also called “Elohim.” Jehovah gave Moses these commandments for the children of Israel to live by. They had been in Egypt 420 years and the last hundred or so as slaves, a new Pharaoh had come to power, a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph. They had mostly forgotten the God of their fathers. Moses had to remind them of what their fathers had known and whom they worshiped even though they recognized the great “I Am” who sent Moses to free them. Jehovah gave Moses the Ten Commandments while they were in the desert. The ten commandments were basic and primarily a teaching tool. A person striving to live the ten commandments today would be blessed for his desire to do so.
The Ten Commandments:
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s.
The Beatitudes:
Jehovah or “I Am” was eventually born to earth as Jesus the son of Mary. While here, on earth He gave us an even greater code of conduct to live by, called, “the Beatitudes.” And seeing the multitudes, He ( Jesus) went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying;
Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Beatitudes represent the gospel of love or the way the Lord would have us live irrespective of any and all other codes or creeds.
The Articles of Faith
Of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
After the church of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth in 1830 through the prophet Joseph Smith he submitted the following tenets of our beliefs called;
The Thirteen Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were not given to replace the Ten Commandments nor the Beatitudes. They are a list of the things that Latter day Saints believe. They were composed by the Prophet Joseph Smith to describe for a newspaper editor the beliefs of the new American religion, named after Jesus Christ Himself, ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. Joseph Smith.
King Solomon:
Things that the Lord hates.
King Solomon was the author of ‘the things that the Lord hates’ and they represent the negative approach.
Book of Proverbs 6:16-19. Among the verses traditionally associated with King Solomon, it states that the Lord specifically regards “six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him,” namely: A proud(vain) look A lying tongue. Hands that shed innocent blood
A heart that deviseth wicked acts
Feet that be swift in running to mischief A false witness that speaketh lies
He that soweth discord among brethren
Mahatma Ghandi: Seven Cardinal sins (Original)
Another wise and good set of rules to help us live a better life are the Seven Cardinal sins. These were presented to the people of India by their great social reformer,
Wealth Without Work
Pleasure Without Conscience
Knowledge Without Character
Commerce (Business) Without Morality (Ethics) Science Without Humanity
Religion Without Sacrifice
Politics Without Principle
Mahatma Gandhi Has been quoted by the greatest “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
Native American Code of Ethics—The Wisdom Warrior
1. Rise with the sun to pray, pray alone, pray often. The Great Spirit will listen if you will only speak.
2. Be tolerant of those that are lost on their paths. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy, and greed stem from lost souls. Pray that they will find guidance.
3. Search for yourself by yourself, do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
4. Treat the guest in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best beds, and treat them with respect and honor.
5. Do not take what is not yours, whether from a person, a community, the wilderness, or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.
6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth, whether people, animal, or plant. Honor the spirit in all things.
7. Honor other people’s thoughts, wishes, and words. Never interrupt another, mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.
8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you. All people make mistakes, and all mistakes can be forgiven. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body, and spirit. Practice optimism.
9. Nature is not for us, it is a part of us. Nature is part of your worldly family.
10. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life’s lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.
11. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.
12. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of one’s will within this universe.
13. Keep yourself balanced. Your mental self, spiritual self, emotional self, and physical self all need to be strong, pure, and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.
14. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.
15. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others, especially sacred and religious objects-this is forbidden.
16. Be true to yourself. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
17. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your beliefs upon others.
18. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity. Be willing to give back to the people so that the people will live.
Aho!
Lectures on Faith: (Internet access)
“All things that pertain to life and godliness are the effects of faith and nothing else”
Lectures on faith were published in the forepart of the Doctrine and Covenants in all editions from 1835 until 1921? Although the lectures are not currently published as part of the standard works, it is evident that they were held in high esteem by the Prophet Joseph Smith and those that followed him. President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “These lectures are of great value and should be studied…I consider them to be of extreme value in the study of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Bruce R. McConkie has classified the lectures as “some of the best lesson material ever prepared on the Godhead; on the character, perfections, and attributes of God; on faith, miracles, and sacrifice. They can be studied with great profit by all scholars.”
The seven lectures in this collection deal with the following subjects: What is faith?
What is the role of revelation in developing faith?
What are the attributes of God?
Why is it necessary to have a correct knowledge about God’s attributes in order to exercise true faith?
What is the true nature of the Godhead and what is God’s purpose for man?
What is the role of sacrifice in building the faith needed for eternal life? What are the effects or results that flow from having true faith?
Mother Teresa:
Though mother Teresa may not have written the following statement it was found pinned on the wall, in her home for children in Calcutta: She lived by these;
These are things that are hard to do but we are advised to do them anyway!
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
United States Armed Forces Code of Conduct:
I. I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
2. I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
3. If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
4. If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.
5. When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.
6. I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
Alcoholics Anonymous:
Alcoholism is a painful disease and ordinarily it can only be overcome with the help of those who have suffered but have overcome.
Their motto: “God grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change, the courage to change things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The Lone Ranger Creed:
The Lone Ranger was conceived of on a radio program by Fran Striker in the late 1920’s. The Lone Ranger was a masked horseman who went around doing good and saving people. The Lone Ranger’s Creed was less polished but yet valuable for one to follow. It includes:
1. I believe that to have a friend, a man must be one.
2. That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.
3. That God put firewood there but that every man must gather and light it himself.
4. In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.
5. That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.
6. That this government, of the people, by the people and for the people shall live always.
7. That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.
8. That sooner or later…somewhere…somehow…we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.
Boy Scout Oath and/or Promise:
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
Note that the Boy Scout Oath has traditionally been considered to have three promises. Those three promises are delineated by the semicolons in the Oath, which divide it into three clauses.
The three promises of the Scout Oath are, therefore:
Duty to God and country, Duty to other people, and Duty to self
Duty to God and Country: Your family and religious leaders teach you to know and serve God. By following these teachings, you do your duty to God. Men and women of the past worked to make America great, and many gave their lives for their country. By being a good family member and a good citizen, by working for your country’s good and obeying its laws, you do your duty to your country. Obeying the Scout Law means living by its 12 points.
Duty to Other People: Many people need help. A cheery smile and a helping hand make life easier for others. By doing a Good Turn daily and helping when you’re needed, you prove yourself a Scout and do your part to make this a better world.
Duty to Self: Keeping yourself physically strong means taking care of your body. Eat the right foods and build your strength. Staying mentally awake means learn all you can, be curious, and ask questions. Being morally straight means to live your life with honesty, to be clean in your speech and actions, and to be a person of strong character.
Boy Scout Law:
A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
Boy Scout Motto:
Be Prepared!
Boy Scout Slogan:
Do a Good Turn Daily!
The Outdoor Code:
As an American, I will do my best to – Be clean in my outdoor manners
Be careful with fire
Be considerate in the outdoors, and Be conservation minded.
Benjamin Franklin’s code of conduct; for he is an American legend:
He single handedly invented the idea of the “self-made man.” Despite being born into a poor family and only receiving two years of formal schooling, Franklin became a successful printer, scientist, musician, and author. Oh, and in his spare time he helped found a country, and then served as its diplomat.
The key to Franklin’s success was his drive to constantly improve himself and accomplish his ambitions. In 1726, at the age of 20, Ben Franklin set his loftiest goal: the attainment of moral perfection.
I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish’d to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into.
In order to accomplish his goal, Franklin developed and committed himself to a personal improvement program that consisted of living 13 virtues. The 13 virtues were:
“TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”
“SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”
“ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”
“RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.”
“FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”
“INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”
“SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.”
“JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”
“MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”
“CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.”
“TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”
“CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.”
“HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”
St. Francis de Sales: Angels
Make yourself familiar with angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with us always.