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Living by the scriptures

"Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart." - 2 Chron. 25:1-2.I have always had great admiration and respect for our Church leaders. For years I assumed that in order to hold a leadership position in the Kingdom, one must have overcome all worldly temptations and problems and be as nearly perfect as earthly possible.

In reading the Old Testament a few years ago, I came across the above scripture. It impressed me because at the time I was serving in a Church leadership position. I realized that others now looked at me as one who was "in the world but not of the world." I knew that, although I held a leadership position, I was not relieved of the troubles and temptations that I had before the calling came. I knew that while outwardly I appeared to be in harmony with gospel teachings, inside I still had my personal struggles (as do all people). I was not exempt from the trials of mortality merely because of a calling.

We can all outwardly appear as good Saints. We can attend our meetings in our best Sunday clothes, perform our Church assignments as outlined in the handbooks, carry our scriptures, and smile our best smiles. But the Lord is concerned more with the heart. For unlike Amaziah, we must do more than just do what is right; we must do what is right "with a perfect heart." In other words, we must be Christlike in our thoughts as well as in our actions. - Warren R. Webb, Salt Lake City, Utah.

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