A Return to True Civility, Tiana Cole/page 1

[Title]
A Return to True Civility
[Kicker] Although we are imperfect, we can still treat others with loveeven if we dont always
agree.
Word Count: 266
[Highlights of the source article] In todays society, civility often sounds like an oldfashioned word. Why? In his publication Civility and Moral Being,
[http://wheatley.byu.edu/fellow_notes/individual.cfm?id=44] Terrance D. Olson points out that in
our day, we sometimes justify treating others uncivilly as our attitude toward civility itself
changes.
Most people think of civility as politeness or avoiding disagreements. Actually, civility comes
from moralityacting the way God would have us act.
When we lose sight of Gods will, we tend to get discouraged, act uncivilly toward each other,
and then excuse ourselves by saying Im only human. Yes, we are human, with mortal faults,
but Olson offers that it is not the human condition of being imperfect that fuels modern
incivilityit is the assumption that civility is impossible to experience precisely because of the
human condition.
Two common misunderstandings of civility are as follows:
1. Civility is a means to an end.
Politeness without interest in the other persons well-being is not civility. While it is
good to be friendly, if we are friendly only to get what we want, we are not honest in our
intentions.
2. Since we are imperfect, its not possible to be civil all the time.
Disagreement doesnt have to lead to contention. Frustration doesnt have to lead to
incivility. As children of our Heavenly Father, we have the agency
[https://www.lds.org/topics/agency?lang=eng] to choose to respond to difficult situations
with love.
When we live true to our moral sense of how to treat others . . . our civility comes from the
heart, Olson writes. As we emulate the Savior [https://www.lds.org/topics/jesus-christ?
lang=eng], we can become more sincere and loving in our interactions.
[Link to the source article]
Read all of Civility and Moral Being [http://wheatley.byu.edu/fellow_notes/individual.cfm?
id=44] by Terrance D. Olson at the Wheatley Institutions website.

A Return to True Civility, Tiana Cole/page 2

Source:
The Wheatley Institution [http://wheatley.byu.edu]
[Byline]
Tiana Cole, Mormon Insights
Find more insights
Learn how we are to love each other in 1 John 3:18 [https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-jn/3.18?
lang=eng#17]
Discover how you can turn outward and be more civil by reading President Dieter F. Uchtdorfs
talk On Being Genuine. [https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/on-being-genuine?
lang=eng]
Become more like the Savior by reviewing the steps in Following in His Footsteps
[http://www.mormonchannel.org/blog/post/following-in-his-footsteps] and finding out what you
can do better to follow him.
Read Jesuss counsel to his followers in the ancient Americas in 3 Nephi 12
[https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/12.44?lang=eng#430] from the Book of Mormon, or
watch the Bible video [http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/bible-videos/sermon-onthe-mount-the-beatitudes] of a similar sermon he gave to his followers in Israel.
[Info for the Web Team]
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