What does Paul mean when he says, "be thou an example of the believers"? What traits should believers have? The answer may be different for everyone, but in my life, my father has been "an example of the believers."
As far back as I can remember, my father has been faithful and steady. He works very hard to support his family, he faithfully attends church meetings, he and my mother regularly attend the *temple, and he accepts callings to serve in the church. He tries to understand what each calling involves and then he works to fulfill that calling as well as he can.
As a home-teacher, who visits families in the *ward and ensures that they are spiritually and physically cared for, my father always did his best. He would help repair roofs, mow lawns, and always try to uplift them. I know, because I was his home-teaching partner for several years.
As a primary teacher, teaching children during sunday school, he tried to help his unruly students feel the power of the gospel in each lesson. I know, because I was one of his students.
As a scoutmaster and then as young men's president in the ward, he worked to make sure that each boy was progressing physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. He took the time to go camping, cycling, rowing, swimming, or do whatever the boys needed to do to progress. Every boy in that group knew that my father loved them and wanted to help them grow. I know, because I was one of those boys.
To me, this is what it means to be "an example of the believers." I learned about hard work, service, love, and patience by watching my father. I know what he believes, not just because he's told me, but because I have seen him live what he believes. I try each day to become more like my father, because I know that if I can be more like him, I will be more like my Heavenly Father.
*A ward is a local congregation in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
*A temple is a building dedicated as a House of the Lord. To learn more about temples, go to http://lds.org/church/temples?lang=eng or http://www.mormon.org/faq/church-and-temple/
