By their fruits

I’m a pretty rational thinker.

You probably see that come through in the posts I write here.

I like to search the scriptures, find the lessons, and then apply them to my life.

It’s like the ultimate, creative math problem – finding new variables and new information that lead me to different results every day.

And I think that’s why I’m obsessed with this scripture that Christ speaks in 3 Nephi 14.

Because it just makes logical sense.

Truly good people live good lives and produce good results.

People with ulterior motives may speak eloquently, but by definition, they cannot produce goodness.

To be clear, the “results” are not equated with “success” in worldly terms – evil people become rich and famous, and good people have serious trials.

But good people emanate love.

We will listen to leaders speak at General Conference next week, and we will hear great words being spoken.

But we can also see evidence that these amazing men and women back up what they say with the good things that they do.

This is one of the ways that I KNOW this gospel is true.

Because following the teachings that I have learned has given me a taste of God’s love and allowed me to feel greater love for people around me.

It just makes sense!

But the trickiest part is sometimes showing that love.

Because others are looking at me and judging me by my fruits, too.

Am I putting good results out into the world? Am I sharing and spreading love? Do I live with integrity for the things I believe?

Will someone look at me and want to know more about what I believe in based off of my attitudes, love, and good deeds?

Or will I fade into the great and spacious crowd by slipping into the latest trends and digging into negative emotions?

Christ’s advice about judging by fruits is what has saved my testimony time and time again – and it’s what keeps me constantly analyzing if I’m letting my testimony shine through in the way I live.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black