Being Sincere

When I was in the ninth grade I remember finding out that the boy my friend was desperately in love with liked me. I hated this awkward information and wanted it to go away. I knew it would devastate her and had no clue how to share the news - so I didn't. My hope was that he would come to recognize the mutual feelings he carried for her and I continued to encourage her to pursue him. My 33 year old self sees how ludicrous this plan was but my 14 year old self was surprised when it backfired. My friend confronted me one day saying, "Why did you to tell me to like "Jon" when you knew he liked you?" And then she walked away.
I am a people pleaser. I instinctively want everyone to feel wonderful and to see the beauty that I see,  but it is also important not to forget one single word - sincerity. I want to be real. This doesn't mean shoving out brutal remarks that hurt people, it means taking the time to SINCERELY listen, think, pray, reflect, ponder and voice the inner thoughts of Cammy. A wonderful exemplar of someone with sincerity is Alma the Younger.

In Alma 30 we read about Korihor, the antichrist. Alma confronts him and asks in verse 37, ".... believest thou that there is a God? 38 And he answered Nay. 39 Now Alma said unto him: will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come." Alma bore his testimony straight into Korihor's face. He wasn't afraid of this antichrist who had gleefully lead many men and women into transgression. Alma was a defender of truth and sincere in living and standing up for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
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I love the prayer he offers in the following chapter, chapter 31. It is the perfect example of how one should pray; consisting of three things Sister Mindy Davis pointed out in a video I viewed recently, "1. He speaks of his feelings 2. He outlines his view of the problems 3. He makes requests to deal with the problems". Alma knows his father and has a conversation with Him. He prays sincerely. 

In verse 32 he says, "O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me- yea, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and also, Amulek and Zeezrom, and also my two sons - yea, even all these wilt thou comfort O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ." Amidst all of his own personal trials Alma remembers to request the help from the Lord for those he loves deeply. He is a sincere friend.

Those words from my old friend still echo in my mind once in awhile, "Why did you tell me to like "Jon" when you knew he liked you?" They push me to be a little better in defending and living the gospel, having wonderful conversations through prayer, and being a better, truer friend like Alma. My goal is to be like Christ and there is no one more sincere than He.