A Return to Virtue

I was studying in Alma 47 this morning and was reminded of some conference talks given in the fall of 2008. "Christian Courage" by, Robert D. Hales (Quorum of the 12 Apostles) and "Return to Virtue" by, Elaine S. Dalton (General Young Womens President)Photo: Elaine S. Dalton, General Young Women's President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

"Could it be that we have been slowly desensitized into thinking that high moral standards are old-fashioned and not relevant or important in today’s society? As Elder Hales has just reminded us, Lehonti in the Book of Mormon was well positioned on the top of a mountain. He and those he led were “fixed in their minds with a determined resolution” that they would not come down from the mount. It only took the deceitful Amalickiah four tries, each one more bold than the previous, to get Lehonti to “come down off from the mount.”8 And then having embraced Amalickiah’s false promises, Lehonti was “poison[ed] by degrees”9 until he died. Not just poisoned, but “by degrees.” Could it be that this may be happening today? Could it be that first we tolerate, then accept, and eventually embrace the vice that surrounds us?10 Could it be that we have been deceived by false role models and persuasive media messages that cause us to forget our divine identity?

Are we too being poisoned by degrees? What could be more deceptive than to entice the youth of this noble generation to do nothing or to be busy ever-texting but never coming to a knowledge of the truths contained in a book that was written for you and your day by prophets of God—the Book of Mormon? What could be more deceptive than to entice women, young and old, you and me, to be so involved in ourselves, our looks, our clothes, our body shape and size that we lose sight of our divine identity and our ability to change the world through our virtuous influence? What could be more deceptive than to entice men—young and old, holding the holy priesthood of God—to view seductive pornography and thus focus on flesh instead of faith, to be consumers of vice rather than guardians of virtue? The Book of Mormon relates the story of 2,000 young heroes whose virtue and purity gave them the strength to defend their parents’ covenants and their family’s faith. Their virtue and commitment to be “true at all times” changed the world!11

...What can each of us do to begin our return to virtue? The course and the training program will be unique to each of us. I have derived my personal training program from instructions found in the scriptures: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.”14 “Cleave unto [your] covenants.”15 “Stand … in holy places.”16 “Lay aside the things of [the] world.”17 “Believe that ye must repent.”18 “Always remember him and keep his commandments.”19 And “if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, … seek after these things.”20 Now more than ever before, it is time to respond to Moroni’s call to “awake, and arise” and to “lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.”21

...I testify that a return to virtue is possible because of the Savior’s example and the “infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice.”22 I testify that we will be enabled and strengthened not only to do hard things but to do all things. Now is the time for each of us to arise and unfurl a banner to the world calling for a return to virtue. "

Elaine S. Dalton, “A Return to Virtue,” Liahona, Nov 2008, 78–80

A Voice of Warning

My husband and I listened to this fireside talk by Elder David A. Bednar last weekend. We loved it and I wanted to share parts of it. For the full talk you can watch it or listen to it here http://lds.org/broadcast/ces/0,7341,538,00.html
My heart is full of so much gratitude for the loving counsel and guidance from Apostles and Prophets of God in our day!! I don't know where I would be without them.



"Today I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls. The concerns I raise are not new, they apply equally to other types of media such as television, movies and music. But brothers and sisters in a cyber world these challenges are more pervasive and intense. I plead with you to beware of the sense dulling, and spiritually destructive influence of cyberspace technologies that are used to produce high fidelity [exactness or a accuracy in details] and that promote degrading and evil purposes. If the adversary cannot entice us to misuse our physical bodies, then one of his most potent tactics is to beguile you and me as embodied spirits to disconnect gradually and physically from things as they really are…

Please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, earbuds, twittering, online social networking and potentially addictive uses of media in the internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person to person communication. Beware of digital displays and data in many forms of computer mediated interaction that can displace the full range of physical capacity and experience…

We need to heed the admonition of Paul, “that everyone of you should know how to posses his vessel in sanctification and honor” 1 Thes. 4:4

An immature or misguided spouse may devote an inordinate amount of time to playing video games, chatting online, or in other ways allowing the digital to dominate things as they really are. Initially the investment of time may seem relatively harmless, rationalized as a few minutes of needed relief from the demands of a hectic daily schedule but important opportunities are missed for developing and improving interpersonal skills, for laughing and crying together and for creating a rich and enduring bond of emotional intimacy. Progressively, seemingly innocent entertainment can become a form of pernicious enslavement.

Now brothers and sisters please understand, I am not suggesting all technology is inherently bad, it is not… Nor am I saying we should not use its many capabilities in appropriate ways to learn, to communicate, to lift and brighten lives and to build the Church, of course we should. But I am raising a warning voice that we should not squander and damage authentic relationships by obsessing over contrived ones."

Net or Web?

interNET or the world-wide-WEB.... So which is it?? We decide.

NET

A tool to gather in that which is good,

That which uplifts my soul and inspires me to be a better mom, wife and friend.

A net to gather light and truth,

To gather souls and encourage them to live and to love,

A net to gather music into my home that brings peace and hope.

A net to gather words that guide me right,

A net to educate and gain knowledge and incites,

To inspire creativity.

A net to gather souls to Christ.

A net to gather faith.

OR

WEB

A tool used against me to trap and entangle

In lies, falsehoods, greed, envy, lust, and all other kinds of wickedness.

As it lures with it's false sense of security of "friends" and "followers."

It lures with flashy "entertainment," and worthless trends,

Sapping one of a deeper thinking and of precious time.

It plays upon fears, encourages greed, parades to lust

Proudly flaunting filth like a banner,

Boasting and shouting and in our face, irreverent and degrading to the spirit of man.

This web first entices, grabs hold and then wraps in a paralyzing bind

Draining out life,

Then abandons to complete and total destruction.

So which will it be a Net or a Web?

I will choose the first!

Net or Web? by, Alicia Rawlins

Does this happen to you?

I go to do a quick check of my email,

I plan to be there for just a second but then I pass by the news on yahoo and something catches my eye leading me to more news that is usually just plain depressing or totally useless.

Then I forget checking my email and end up going to blogger and check out what's on my dashboard which can lead me from one blog to another in an endless sea of blogs.

After viewing so many other blogs I begin to think of fun or different things I can add to mine or what my new post will be about.

So I'll work on my blog only to remember I never got around to checking my email.

I stop by at my email and find my inbox full of messages, some forwards, some stopping by to say "hi", some long, some short so I take a bit of time to respond to them.

I had only "planned" to be on the computer for just a couple of minutes and before I know it, those couple of minutes have turned into a couple of hours!!

I turn around from the stupid computer and see I have 10 min. or less to get my kids ready for school, their hair is a mess, the house is a mess, I am a mess, they aren't dressed, I'm not dressed, they aren't fed and I'm not fed and the baby is screaming. This is where I usually end up in a full scale panic, usually blaming my kids for playing all morning, instead of getting ready (duh. hello! who is the real one to blame?)

Now this doesn't happen to me every day... but it has happened to me and it's an awful feeling. Maybe I'm the only one who has experienced this... Either way.. I have decided to exercise more self control, to exercise a little more self restraint.

Yes the Internet can be used as a really great tool for education, for learning, keeping in touch with family and friends, for downloading yummy recipes (wonderful tool for this)... and my personal favorite thing the Internet can be used for is sharing the Gospel.

A web can be used for two things to capture or to be captured. So the internet must be used wisely.

So I think it's a matter of making the decision of what is most important at the moment and taking care of those things first. There are many things on the Internet that can wait and will still be there moments or even months later. But some things won't be there at the next moment or months later... and it is usually those things that are most important.

There was a really great talk given not long ago that helps to emphasize and clarify where I'm coming from called... Good, Better, Best

I am going to limit my total screen time, (television, Internet or whatever) to absolutely no more than one hour a day. Occasionally there will be those weekends where I might put in a movie. But during the week I am putting my goal to have absolutely no more than 1 hour of SCREEN time per day.... Because I've just got "Better" things to do.

Reason #1 to limit my screen time: So I have more of this little miracle...

Reason #2 to limit my screen time: So I have more of this little miracle...

Reason #3 to limit my screen time: So I have more of this little miracle...

Reason #4 to limit my screen time: So I have more of this little miracle...

Reason #5 to limit my screen time: So I have more of this...

Temptation

I found these cool posters. I especially like the one with the "running shoes." I know the Savior cleanses us and forgives us of our sins but that still does not make it safe to mess around with temptation. Through His grace we can lose desire for all sin and have our hearts changed that we hunger and thirst after righteousness.

"You're never big enough and you're never strong enough to toy with sin" (D&C 88:86)

"Don't be fooled, No matter how it's disguised, sin is still sin. Stay away from it." (See D&C 50:3, Moses 4:4)

"Just once will hurt, toying with sin is flirting with disaster. Get the point?" (See D&C 1:31-32)

"In case of temptation: Break glass. Playing with temtation is like playing with fire. Run from it or you'll get burned." (See Genesis 39:12)

Making a Case for Morality

I've mentioned in a previous post that I'm re-reading a book I read about 9yrs. ago. It's entitled, "Standing for Something." It was written by the late President Gordon B. Hinckley (Prophet from 1995-2008).

These are quotes I'd like to share from the 3rd Chapter, "Making a Case for Morality."

"A great moral reformation will occur only as reformation takes place in the hearts, minds, and lives of each of us"

"Paul counseled Timothy, 'Keep thyself pure' (1 Tim 5:22) Those are simple words. But they are ever so important. Paul is saying, in effect: Stay away from those things that undermine and eventually destroy the soul."

"The challenge to recognize evil and oppose it is one that every moral, virtuous person must accept... It all begins with our own personal virtue. Reformation of the world begins with reformation of self. We cannot hope to influence others in the direction of moral virtue unless we live lives of virtue."

"It is naive to believe that a steady diet of blatant immorality, played out nightly in our living rooms, has no effect on people...Apparently, a host of advertisers felt confident that in thirty seconds' time they could influence their viewers to buy the products or services they were peddling. Are we really to believe that hours, leading to years of television viewing will not affect attitudes about everything from family life to appropriate sexual relations?"

"In too many homes and lives, [pornography] is now regarded as a legitimate slice of entertainment. Pornography robs its victims of self-respect and of an appreciation of the beauties of life. It tears down those who indulge and pulls them into a slough of evil thoughts and possibly evil deeds. It seduces, destroys, and distorts the truth about love and intimacy. It is more deadly than a foul disease. Pornography is as addictive and self-destructive as illicit drugs, and it literally destroys the personal relationships of those who become its slaves.
Not one of us can afford to partake of this rubbish. We cannot risk the damage it does to the most precious of relationships- marriage- and to other interactions within the family. We cannot risk the effect it will have on our spirit and soul. Salacious videotapes, 900 telephone numbers, the filth found on the Internet, sensual magazines and movies- all are traps to be avoided like the deadliest of plagues."

"Both experience and divine wisdom dictate that moral virtue and cleanliness pave the way that leads to strength of character, peace of mind and heart, and happiness in life."

"The violation of moral virtues in this age, as in any other age, brings only regret, sorrow, loss of self-respect, and, in many cases, tragedy."

"Self-discipline is not necessarily easy. It requires effort and strength. It requires thought and prayer. In the long run, however, self-discipline is a far easier path than is blatant indulgence, which leads to a corrosion of heart and spirit."

"Any self-justification is only self-deception and a miserable fraud. It was said of old that 'he that governeth himself is greater than he that taketh a city.' Can there really be peace in the heart or freedom in the life of any man who has left only misery as the bitter fruit of his indulgence? Can anything be more false or dishonest than gratification of passion without acceptance of responsibility?"

"Legal restraints against immoral behavior are eroding under legislative enactments and court opinions. This is done in the name of freedom- freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of choice in so-called personal matters. But the abuse of these freedoms has yielded enslavement to degrading habits, and behavior that leads only to destruction."

Pornography

“I plead with you … to keep yourselves free from the stains of the world. You must not indulge in sleazy talk at school. You must not tell sultry jokes. You must not fool around with the Internet to find pornographic material. You must not dial a long-distance telephone number to listen to filth. You must not rent videos with pornography of any kind. This salacious stuff simply is not for you. Stay away from pornography as you would avoid a serious disease. It is as destructive. It can become habitual, and those who indulge in it get so they cannot leave it alone. It is addictive.

“It is a five-billion-dollar business for those who produce it. They make it as … attractive as they know how. It seduces and destroys its victims. It is everywhere. It is all about us. I plead with you young men not to get involved in its use. You simply cannot afford to.

“The girl you marry is worthy of a husband whose life has not been tainted by this ugly and corrosive material” (Ensign, May 1998, 49).President Gordon B. Hinckley

Here are some other ways you can stay far from the lethal spiritual crevice called pornography:

1. Know it when you see it. A simple definition is this: Pornography is any entertainment that uses immodest or indecent images to stimulate sexual feelings. So even a mainstream television program or advertisement can be pornographic. If images trigger sexual feelings in you, you should avoid them.

2. Break the emotional connection. There is a connection between any addictive behavior and emotions such as stress, anxiety, and depression. If you are feeling stressed or anxious, try to deal with those feelings directly—rather than using pornography or any other destructive means to cover them up. Prayer, scripture study, exercise, positive friends, and regular Church attendance can all help. A parent, a Church leader, or another trusted adult can be a lifeline if problems seem too big to resolve alone.

3. Surf smart. If you have the Internet at home, ask your parents to install an Internet filtering service. But don’t rely on the filter alone; it may fail you. The only real control is self-control. Do keep your computer out of your bedroom; keep it where others will be around.

4. Be a modern-day Joseph. Remember what Joseph did when Potiphar’s wife tried to trap him in an immoral situation? Joseph “fled, and got him out” (Gen. 39:12). In other words, he ran. When you are exposed to pornography, leave immediately—whether by a mouse click, a channel change, or a quick exit from a friend’s house.

5. Get the most powerful help of all. Don’t let your spirit grow weak from lack of spiritual food. A steady diet of righteous influences—such as prayer, scripture study, Mutual, seminary, and a careful study of For the Strength of Youth—can give you the strength you need to navigate through a world that has spiritual crevices at every turn.

Babies don't keep.

I spent alot of time yesterday on the computer and it was very frustrating because my internet was slow, files weren't saving, and nothing was working right. It wouldn't have been so upsetting if I could say I got something accomplished after a few hours. Instead, I ended up losing files and undoing most of the things I worked so hard on.

I spent very little time with my kids and the house went to pot. Those mom's out there who have 2 yr. olds or 3 yr. olds know how quickly they can make a mess.

But I'm not going to worry so much about all the mess today. And as soon as I'm done with this post.... I'm logging off for the rest of the day.

I found a poem that goes with how I feel right now. I don't know who the author is... if anyone out there does, please leave it on a comment and I'll make sure I give the proper credit.

"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait ’til tomorrow.

For babies grow up, We’ve learned to our sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.

I’m rocking my baby, And babies don’t keep."

Painting: "The Touch of Innocence", by Alicia Rawlins http://aliciarawlins.com/

Where does the time go?

I am so grateful for this gift of life I've been given. I think it's meant to be spent wisely and purposefully. Of course we can have fun and do leisurely things. But it seems to me that those things that matter most are often at the mercy of that which matters least.

I think it's good to put a limit on the amount of time we all spend watching television.

I think it's good to put a limit on the amount of time we spend on the computer or web.

I think it's good to put a limit on the amount of times we go to the theaters.

We can choose to watch good movies, good television, and view good things on the web. We can choose to only entertain those things that have strong moral values and messages.

But there is always something better to do than any of these things and you will not miss the media so much if these better things become habit, become first and foremost in your life.

It's better to spend time with your kids, to talk with them and get to know them... to show your love by being interested in them.

It is better to help a neighbor or a friend in need, by a phone call or a visit or a simple act of service.

It is better to mend relationships that have been destroyed by bitterness or unforgiving.

And how much time do we spend reading the Bible or compared to how much time we spend with T.V., movies, video games, Internet? Better yet, how much time do we spend living the Bible?

Is there an imbalance?

I know we would be a happier people if we put the most important things first.... and suddenly the least important fall out of place because we won't have time for them so much anymore. This is just my opinion.