The True Measure of a Man

As I grow older, and somewhat wiser, I often find myself asking this great question. "What is to become of me?" Our Savior answers this same question in 3rd Nephi, he tells us that the manner of men we ought to be, is even as He is. We know this is not going to be an easy task, to become perfect as He is. He is the epitome of charity, how will we ever measure up? I know the scripture mentions men, and it really means men and women, but today I will focus on my species. Throughout time the man has always been the provider, the protector, and the one that presides for a family. The man has always been the dominant species, stronger physically, and mentally (this one I can't fully back up.) In recent times, at least in American culture, the measure of a man has somewhat lost it's value. Media shows men, that are not loyal or faithful, that our role models are actors that can't keep one wife, that even those men in high offices in our government often slip and fall and lie about everything, they show sports role models using drugs to enhance their performances, they show protesters of our military that believe they are fighting for a wrong cause. Rarely do we ever get to hear or read about heroes of our nation, history books seem more closed than ever. We are also seeing a battle for morality more than ever, natural principles and values that are held to a high standard anymore. The most difficult part is that it seems as if we are forgetting the most important person of all, GOD. Although the media may paint a picture and slander what a real measure of a man is. Or we with God's help can be molded, and realize our real potential and become the men that He intended us to be. Loving fathers, husbands, and sons. Hard workers, contributors to society, service givers, and representatives of our Savior. I by no means consider myself a perfect man, or even place anyone in this world with that word perfect. But I believe we have given the tools to become better men, and to become examples of great men for our children and others. I want to end with an amazing quote that was given to me on my mission.

“The place to take the true measure of a man is not in the darkest place or in the amen corner, nor the cornfield, but by his own fireside. There he lays aside his mask and you may learn whether he is an imp or an angel, cur or king, hero or humbug. I care not what the world says of him: whether it crowns him boss or pelts him with bad eggs. I care not a copper what his reputation or religion may be: if his babies dread his homecoming and his better half swallows her heart every time she has to ask him for a five-dollar bill, he is a fraud of the first water, even though he prays night and morning until he is black in the face. … But if his children rush to the front door to meet him and love’s sunshine illuminates the face of his wife every time she hears his footfall, you can take it for granted that he is pure, for his home is a heaven. … I can forgive much in that fellow mortal who would rather make men swear than women weep; who would rather have the hate of the whole world than the contempt of his wife; who would rather call anger to the eyes of a king than fear to the face of a child.” (W. C. Brann, “A Man’s Real Measure, in Elbert Hubbard’s Scrapbook, N.Y.: Wm. H. Wise and Co., 1923, p. 16.)