Attribute #21 - Loyalty

We first met Megan when we flew to Utah for Weston's graduation from BYU. At the time they were just dating, but we knew before the weekend was over that they would be married someday, and one of the traits that we recognized in her right away was loyalty.

Megan is loyal to a lot of things - family, friends, church, good health, commitments, etc. She remembers her friends and goes out of her way to spend time with them, and her family as well. That's something I really admire.

Loyalty: faithful allegiance, steadfastness in affection, adherence to commitments or obligations

Alma 38:2-3
"I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end. . .  I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites."

The same thing said of Shiblon could be said of Megan! (I couldn't find the word loyalty in the scriptures, but faithfulness is the perfect synonym.)

Of course, faithfulness and loyalty are perfected in our Savior. Recently I've been impressed with the fact that in addition to being our Redeemer and Examplar, Jesus Christ also wants to call us friends.

There's a great description by President Gordon B. Hinckley showing how we can apply this principle in our lives:

Let us live the gospel in our homes. Let there be an honest manifestation of love between husbands and wives, between children and their parents. Control the voice of anger. Be absolutely loyal one to another. Simply "do what is right [and] let the consequence follow." So live that each morning you may kneel in prayer, seeking the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as its protective power, as you go about your work of the day. So live that each night, before retiring, you may come before the Lord in prayer without shame or embarrassment or the need to plead for forgiveness. I do not hesitate to say that God will bless you if you will do so.

Note: One of these days maybe we'll take a picture of Megan all by herself, but it may be difficult because she's always surrounded by those she loves!