Two friends worked together for many years. Given their friendship, they'd often exit their office building together.
Their particular office building sat on a corner, bounded by streets on two sides. There were two exits to the building: one onto one street; the other onto the other street.
The interior layout of the building was simple enough. One could easily determine the proper exit by first deciding which way he wanted to go.
But, for reasons not fully understood, these two good friends — who perceived most everything else virtually the same — perceived these building exits differently. Though they both knew the direction they were headed, each thought it logical to exit through a different door.
Seems there was a slight difference of perception.
In all human relationships, there will always be differences of perception.
Understanding those differences will improve those relationships. But the process of trying to understand might have even more value. Trying to understand requires each to look inwardly and determine how to best improve himself.
Looking inwardly, however, isn't easy.
In a business school study at a large American university, CEOs from large corporations that were undergoing major changes were asked to review each other's business challenges. Third party observers soon — and quite easily — recognized that, though the businesses differed, the root of their problems were, essentially, the same.
Interestingly, however, while the CEOs could easily see those problems in the others' businesses, they had a much more difficult time seeing the problems in their own business — believing that, somehow, their circumstances were different.
Whether running a large corporation or trying to improve one's self, perception might well be the key limiting — or the enhancing — variable.
It is far easier — and natural — to see the mote in another's eye than the beam in one's own eye. (See Matthew 7:3-5.)
That's because we're mortal. It isn't easy — or natural — for mortals to readily look inward and righteously determine what personal changes they need to make.
It is, however, essential.
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father" (Mosiah 3:19).
King Benjamin's advice requires honest self evaluation. Honest self evaluation will enhance our relationship with others — and with God.
In order to do as King Benjamin exhorts, we must daily fill our hearts with the things of the Spirit. Otherwise, our minds will become cluttered with the things of the world.
"Praying, studying, gathering, worshipping, serving and obeying are not isolated and independent items on a lengthy gospel checklist of things to do. Rather, each of these righteous practices is an important element in an overarching spiritual quest to fulfill the mandate to receive the Holy Ghost," said Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve in his address during the October 2010 Semiannual General Conference.
"Let us do whatever is required to qualify for the Holy Ghost as our companion," President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, implored in his address during the priesthood session of that same conference.
As we fill our hearts with spiritual things our ability and capacity to love increases. The Spirit will lead and prompt us. We become more willing to actually subjugate our will to the will of the Father. We become submissive, meek, humble, patient and full of love. Our relationships with others — and God — will naturally improve. By consistently following this pattern, the process continues: it leads to an actual change of character and heart.
"You cannot be passive in life, or in time the natural man will undermine your efforts to live worthily. You become what you do and what you think about," Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve said in his October 2010 general conference address.
"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day."
That process literally changes our hearts. (See Alma 5:13.) We actually become more of the person the Savior wants each of us to be. Ultimately, we may become "even as [He is]." (See 3 Nephi 27:27.)
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