In the Bible is recorded a certain commandment from God.
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will
not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). Taking “the
name of the Lord thy God in vain” refers to speaking profanity, or swearing.
This commandment is God’s law, and we must obey God’s law if we want to receive
the blessings He promises the obedient.
I remember when curse words spoken by elementary school kids
would elicit shock and horror. When a classmate let out an inappropriate word,
a series of uncomfortable reactions would ensue – looking a way, feigning
deafness, or forced laughter. Today, cussing is commonplace in any public
setting. Kids are now accustomed to hearing disrespectful language at a very young age. However, as I have gotten older, my personal resolve to not swear
has not diminished, but has actually grown stronger and now extends beyond just
not letting out expletives.
A summary of standards held by members of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is contained in the small pamphlet titled For
the Strength of Youth. This pamphlet is available for viewing at www.lds.org.
Within the book’s pages is a section devoted to Language. The first paragraph
reads, “How you communicate should reflect who you are as a son or daughter of
God. Clean and intelligent language is evidence of a bright and wholesome mind…
Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith, hope, and charity” (p
20). This means that not swearing is only a part of using good language. The
other part is using language that is kind and encouraging, or language that
does not belittle or degrade. I still remember my high school volleyball coach
sharing this principle with her players. She said, “You can tell
a lot more about a person by what they have to say about others, than what
others have to say about them.” I’ve never forgotten this. Our words are powerful;
our words paint us.
In Disney’s Bambi, the adorable bunny named Thumper gives us
a phenomenal guideline. You know the line, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t
say nuttin’ at all.” Perhaps a slanderous remark is well founded. But that is still no reason to tear someone down. In the book of Ephesians in the Bible, we read, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Imagine a world where no one ever spoke negatively of another… I imagine we would all be a lot happier, and we would certainly feel much more secure in our conversations with others. Gone would be the fear of ridicule, being replaced with confidence, acceptance, and love.
God’s standard for us is to “speak kindly and positively
about others. Choose not to insult others or put them down, even in joking.
Avoid gossip of any kind, and avoid speaking in anger. When you are tempted to
say harsh or hurtful things, leave them unsaid” (For the Strength of Youth, p
20).
What do the words I use say about me?
