More and more the attention of the world is being focused on the Church and its members.

There are many reasons for this, but in large part it is because we as Latter-day Saints have a definite way of life that is different from most other people.

There will always be those who are critical of our beliefs, but more and more the hearts of honest, humble people are turning toward us, as the standards of the world sink deeper and deeper into the abyss of evil.

How important it is for us as Latter-day Saints to cling fast to the unchanging truths we have and follow the pattern of conduct as outlined by the Lord.

One simple phrase from the Savior's Sermon on the Mount expresses the whole purpose of the Church and of our lives as members. He said:

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48.)

Our philosophy of life is that we as mankind are the literal children of God, that God gives us the opportunity of becoming like Him, and that the gospel is the pattern by which we may achieve this great goal. There is no other formula for success in our striving to become like our Father in Heaven than the gospel of His Son Jesus Christ.

By following the precepts of the gospel we gradually perfect ourselves. By repentance we eliminate traits and habits that are contrary to His teachings, and by keeping His commandments we build into ourselves those Christlike characteristics that make us like Him. There is simply no other way.

What are the Christlike traits that are found in the gospel? There are many, but consider just a few of them and gauge how far away from these much of the world has strayed.

Honesty. It is Christlike to be honest, and He has commanded us that we should not steal, lie, cheat, covet, or bear false witness. How often honesty is flaunted in the world. But we believe in being honest and we must not depart from this principle if we are to become as God is.

Chastity. Moral cleanliness and respect for our bodies and the bodies of others is almost forgotten in the world of movies, television, books, other types of entertainment, and the Internet. Satan is playing his trump card on the God-given passions and emotions that we know are to be kept within the bounds the Lord has set, and that is within the sacred unity of marriage. As Latter-day Saints we must set before the world an undeviating standard of purity.

Mercy. This quality is almost overlooked as the world feeds on violence, hatred, racial and religious cleansings, and murders. Can anyone be Christlike without a merciful attitude? In his writings to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul affirmed that though we have all knowledge, and even bestow our goods upon the poor, we are nothing without genuine charity which is a pure love like unto that of Christ's. (See I Cor. 13.) One cannot help but think of the parable of the Good Samaritan as evidence of how Christ would want us to treat others. The principles of this parable should be repeated regularly in our lives if we are to exemplify mercy before the world.

Loyalty. Fidelity to those who trust us is fading fast in the lives of so many. "What's in it for me?" is the selfish expression by which so many guide their lives. Faithfulness in the work we do for those who hire us, such as an honest day's work for the compensation we receive, is definitely a Christlike attitude.

Humility. If we are filled with pride, which is the opposite of humility, we make poor teachers or leaders. It is in our willingness to bow before the Lord and follow the counsel of His authorized servants that we follow in the Master's footsteps and become an "ensample unto [those] who follow us." (2 Thess. 3:9.)

We have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We must understand it and we must live it so that those who know us will also better know Christ. To be like the rest of the world is a step backward from Christ. To become like Him is the forward movement we and all honorable people in the world must seek for.

As the eyes of the world continue to observe us, we should never be ashamed of the gospel and its standards. We should not fear to uphold them before the world. Why should we wilt before criticism and feel we need to compromise divine principles?

We should have joy in our beliefs, live them, and persuade others to do likewise for there is no other way to find true happiness in this life or in the world to come.