Friday, April 8, 2011

living the higher law

okay, so this blog post should really be "a note about the honor code: part two," but i didn't want anyone to expect a rant similar to the one i posted a couple days ago.

i didn't mean to vent; i was merely expressing frustration that a lot of people seemed to be needlessly complaining about the honor code. then this morning, i read something that made me realize that my reflection on the honor code wasn't finished.

i'm in the middle of "the broken heart: applying the atonement to life's experiences" by bruce c. hafen, and so far it has been so intriguing and thought-provoking that once i finish it, i almost want to read it again and take good notes this time (which may be difficult, considering the fact that i'm in the middle of a couple other books and have many more anxiously awaiting on my "to read" list).

anyway, so in the chapter "grace and the higher law," elder hafen is discussing the law of moses versus the higher law that christ taught, and he relates his discussion to this familiar topic:


"as i think about dress and grooming standards at our church schools, i yearn for the day when our students will understand the purpose behind the standards, which is so different from merely yielding to them with a technical, superficial compliance. . . speaking from the perspective of the higher law, the lord said 'it is not meet that i should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant' (d&c 58:26). those who attend church schools may only comply with the outward appearance of dress and grooming standards, but i hope they will also learn enough from those standards about modesty, dignity, and masculinity and femininity that as time goes on, they will apply those principles sensibly throughout their lives, no longer needing a church-sponsored code to tell them how to dress. when we learn correct principles, we do govern ourselves."


that struck me because i think at times i fall under the category of those who live the honor code with a "technical, superficial compliance." but it also helped me to understand why i feel the honor code is important, that it really has less to do with rules and curfews and more to do with the commitment of our hearts to becoming more like our savior.

everyone is at a different level of commitment in the gospel, and the honor code is there to remind us of our covenants as members of the church. think of how much it sets us apart (in a good, not pompous way) from other universities! it helps us to become the city set on a hill that "cannot be hid.

3 comments:

jessica renae said...

i like this :) i think you touch on a big reason for the honor code - to teach us spiritual principles by giving us physical laws, with the dress standards, i mean. kind of like parables... those that are looking for the lesson will learn it and those that are just there for the casually won't. anyway, i'm glad you follow the honor code, natalie :)

Gaviota said...

Respecto a ambos post sobre el BYU Honor Code: a eso le llamo tener una opinión bien formada...Estoy de acuerdo contigo: conocemos las consecuencias que traerán la mayoría de las decisiones que tomamos en nuestra vida...Así que el tiempo de objetar esas consecuencias es ANTES de la decisión, y el tiempo de atenerse a ellas es DESPUÉS de la decisión. Y no existe un término medio al respecto.

Julianna said...

Ok this is totally totally totally not a comment about your blog... but I was just reading your "parting advice" that you wrote me when you were transferred and I am dying laughing about it. "Don't drink the wine" you told me, which of course that was one of the funniest days ever. But one that I haven't thought of in so so long is way way funnier. You wrote me "next time you see a bug on someone, don't tell them!" HAHA remember Chiquita screaming "take off my clothes!!!" oh my goodness that was so funny. I am glad we had Chiquita to brighten our days! :) Te quiero mucho. Oh and by the way I definitely have followed your advice. :)