Scriptures Offer the Real Key to Civility

Would it be asking too much for those in the public arena to love each other?

I mean really love each other, candidates loving their opponents, backers of abortion loving opponents of abortion, Tea Partiests loving Obama-ites.

Hey, "What the world needs now, is love, sweet love. It's the only thing, that there's just too little of." (old Carpenters' song)

I have been studying and reflecting on what civility is this past week, and thought to save this post for today, as it is Sunday. This post, though, offers the best advice of all for how to be civil. For, we can make all the lists we like of what and what not to do, but the best way to be civil is to let it come from the heart. Sincerely and honestly love all men and you won't need the rules, for civility will come naturally. If you really love someone, you will treat them right.

"All you need is love. Love. Love is all you need." (old Beatles' song)

"For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:34)

Learning rules and guidelines -- I will continue to do so -- is good. But, I know they will not serve me as well, not bind me to being civil, as much as will just developing an attitude of love for all men. "Charity never faileth." (I Corinthians 13:8)

The scripture of Utah's largest religion adds to that. "Wherefore cleave unto charity," says Moroni 7:46, "which is the greatest of all." (And, indeed, charity -- love -- is the greatest key to civility.) "For all things must fail --" (even as all the lists of dos and don'ts will fail) "But charity . . . endureth."

"A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit. . . A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good. . . .  for of the abundance of his heart, his mouth speaketh." (Luke 6:43-45)