What if others make fun of me because of my standards? They say I expect too much from myself. What can I do?

Fortunately, you have been provided a wonderful guide to standards called For the Strength of Youth. It explains many important things, and two of them are:

1. “Standards will help you make correct choices” (p. 40).

2. “A true friend will encourage you to be your best self” (p. 12).

Consider giving your friends a copy of For the Strength of Youth and explaining why standards mean so much to you. It’s important to understand that you are not trying to put yourself above other people; you are simply trying to become more like the Savior. That’s not expecting too much (see Matthew 5:48).

Each of us can turn individually to the Lord in prayer for help in understanding and applying gospel standards. For the Strength of Youth promises that the Lord “will give you the help you need to meet your trials and challenges” (p. 42). By staying close to Him through daily prayer and scripture study, you can come to know if your actions are pleasing to Him. True friends will support you in that.

Remember, standards aren’t meant to tie you down. Rather, they are guidelines to help you become truly free. Living gospel standards means that as a child of God, you are living in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Be careful, however, not to confuse gospel standards with personal goals and preferences. Some of us have a tendency to try to do even more than is needed. (See Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, 11).