Why Chastity is Necessary to Walk the Path

I'm sad to report that it has come to my attention that many of the young men I know in the various spheres of my life have become entrapped by internet pornography. Furthermore, my father told me about a visit from a general authority and at a meeting, this leader stood and issued a stern warning to the men of the church. In some way, pornography has affected us all, some more than others. So, I had been thinking about the evil of pornography leading up to latest general conference. I was struck when the gentle Pres. Monson looked directly ahead and commanded, "Cease now!" He was talking to those who are ensnared by this evil. So, I have been studying chastity and meditating on why it is so vital. Here, in my opinion, are some of the reasons that chastity is so important to any true disciple who desires to partake of the fruit of the Plan of Happiness, of Exaltation in the Realms of our Father. My hope is that I--in some way--can be a champion and helpmate to those brothers who continue to struggle under the great weight of this sin. I sympathize with them and know how much happier they can be once they make the choice to do the work to remove themselves from this terrible state of being.

The mind and our sexual energy are totally united. Someone who is addicted to fornication (including mental fornication/pornography), to lust, has a mind that is filled with passion, with desire for self-satisfaction. This is antithetical to CHARITY, the most important of all godly traits. It is poisonous to charity, because lust seeks to feed itself. Pride seeks to feed itself. Anger seeks to hurt other people in order to feed itself. So all of these qualities perform wrong action and hurt other people and feed the natural man, or self. The more powerful the natural man is, the more of an enemy one is to God.

The work begins by transforming the sexual energy that we have through conscious will: self-sacrifice.

We have to understand that the positive traits of the true disciple (patience, generosity, etc.) are interrelated with each other, and they build on each other. The disciple who comprehends in his self the true nature of Charity, of Generosity, is understanding how to perform action for the benefit of others without a sense of self: that means, without self-interest. Such a person acts because it benefits other people. It can be said that when the the True Disciple acts, he acts on behalf of others without concern for his own needs.

Lust, fornication, pornography, masturbation are in direct opposition to charity. They are the polar opposite and he who engages in these acts embodies the spirit of selfishness and embody the devil and his demons. They feed these negative spiritual energies and generate great woe not only for themselves, but for others.

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Pornography is any material depicting or describing the human body or sexual conduct in a way that arouses sexual feelings. It is distributed through many media, including magazines, books, television, movies, music, and the Internet. It is as harmful to the spirit as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs are to the body. Using pornographic material in any way is a violation of a commandment of God: "Thou shalt not . . . commit adultery . . . nor do anything like unto it" (D&C 59:6). It can lead to other serious sins. Members of the Church should avoid pornography in any form and should oppose its production, distribution, and use.

Pornography is tragically addictive. Like other addictions, it leads people to experiment and to seek more powerful stimulation. Those who experiment with it and allow themselves to remain caught in its trap will find that it will destroy them, degrading their minds, hearts, and spirits. It will rob them of self-respect and of their sense of the beauties of life. It will tear them down and lead them to evil thoughts and possibly evil actions. It will cause terrible damage to their family relationships.

Because of the addictive nature of pornography and the harm it can cause to body and spirit, servants of God have repeatedly warned us to shun it. Those who are caught in the trap of pornography should stop immediately and seek help. Through repentance, those who have been addicted can receive forgiveness and find hope in the gospel. Bishops and branch presidents can provide counsel on how to overcome this problem. The Atonement of Jesus Christ can provide the needed healing as people prayerfully seek the Lord's help.

First Presidency Message Pornography, the Deadly Carrier

By President Thomas S. Monson
First Counselor in the First Presidency

I remember reading about woodcutters laying their massive axes and power saws to the stately and once mighty elm trees that graced the countryside surrounding England’s Heathrow Airport.

It was said some of the majestic monarchs were over 100 years old. One wondered how many persons had admired their beauty, how many picnics had been enjoyed in their welcome shade, how many generations of songbirds had filled the air with music while capering among the outstretched and luxuriant branches.

Yet the patriarchal elms were dead. Their demise was not the result of old age, recurring drought, or the strong winds which occasionally lash the area. Their destroyer was much more harmless in appearance yet deadly in result. We know the culprit as the bark beetle, carrier of the fatal Dutch elm disease. This malady has destroyed vast elm forests throughout Europe and America. Its march of death continues. Many efforts at control have failed.

Dutch elm disease usually begins with a wilting of the younger leaves in the upper part of the tree. Later the lower branches become infected. In about midsummer most of the leaves turn yellow, curl, and drop off. Life ebbs. Death approaches. A forest is consumed. The bark beetle has taken its terrible toll.

How like the elm is man. From a minute seed and in accordance with a divine plan, we grow, are nurtured, and mature. The bright sunlight of heaven, the rich blessings of earth are ours. In our private forest of family and friends, life is richly rewarding and abundantly beautiful. Then suddenly, there appears before us in this generation a sinister and diabolical enemy—pornography. Like the bark beetle, it too is the carrier of a deadly disease. I shall name it “pernicious permissiveness.”

At first we scarcely realize we have been infected. We laugh and make lighthearted comment concerning the off-color story or the clever cartoon. With evangelical zeal we protect the so-called rights of those who would contaminate with smut and destroy all that is precious and sacred. The beetle of pornography is doing his deadly task—undercutting our will, destroying our immunity, and stifling that upward reach within each of us.

Can this actually be true? Surely this matter of pernicious permissiveness is not so serious. What are the facts? Let’s look! Let’s listen! Then let’s act!

Pornography and Crime

Pornography, the carrier, is big business. It is evil. It is contagious. It is addicting. It is estimated that in recent years Americans alone spent $8–10 billion per year on hard-core pornography 1—a fortune siphoned away from noble use and diverted to a devilish purpose!

Apathy toward pornography stems mostly from a widespread public attitude that it is a victimless crime and that police resources are better used in other areas. Many state and local ordinances are ineffective, sentences are light, and the huge financial rewards far outweigh the risks.

One study points out that pornography may have a direct relationship to sex crimes. In the study, 87 percent of convicted molesters of girls and 77 percent of convicted molesters of boys admit to the use of pornography, most often in commission of their crimes. 2

Some publishers and printers prostitute their presses by printing millions of pieces of pornography each day. No expense is spared. The finest of paper, the spectrum of full color combine to produce a product certain to be read, then read again. Nor are the movie or Web site producer, the television programmer, or the entertainer free from taint. Gone are the restraints of yesteryear. So-called realism is the quest.

One leading box office star lamented: “The boundaries of permissiveness have been extended to the limit. The last film I did was filthy. I thought it was filthy when I read the script, and I still think it’s filthy; but the studio tried it out at a Friday night sneak preview and the audience screamed its approval.”

Another star declared, “Movie makers, like publishers, are in the business to make money, and they make money by giving the public what it wants.”

Some persons struggle to differentiate between what they term “soft-core” and “hard-core” pornography. Actually, one leads to another. How applicable is Alexander Pope’s classic “Essay on Man”:

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace. 3

The constant, consuming march of the pornography beetle blights neighborhoods just as it contaminates human lives. It has just about destroyed some areas. It moves relentlessly closer to your city, your neighborhood, and your family. Pornography is now more available than ever. At the click of a button, evil can be viewed in our homes on televisions and computer screens, in our hotels and movie theaters, or even in our places of employment, where access to the Internet is often provided.

Warning

An ominous warning was voiced by Laurence M. Gould, former president of Carleton College: “I do not believe the greatest threat to our future is from bombs or guided missiles. I don’t think our civilization will die that way. I think it will die when we no longer care. Arnold Toynbee has pointed out that 19 of 21 civilizations have died from within and not by conquest from without. There were no bands playing and flags waving when these civilizations decayed. It happened slowly, in the quiet and the dark when no one was aware.” 4

I remember reading a review of a new movie. The leading actress told the reporter that she objected initially to the script and the part she was to play. The role portrayed her as the sexual companion of a 14-year-old boy. She commented: “At first I said, ‘No way will I agree to such a scene.’ Then I was given the assurance that the boy’s mother would be present during all intimate scenes, so I agreed.”

I ask: Would a mother stand by watching were her son embraced by a cobra? Would she subject him to the taste of arsenic or strychnine? Mothers, would you? Fathers, would we?

From the past of long ago we hear the echo so relevant today:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” 5

Today we have a rebirth of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah. From seldom-read pages in dusty Bibles they come forth as real cities in a real world, depicting a real malady—pernicious permissiveness.

Our Battle Plan

We have the capacity and the responsibility to stand as a bulwark between all we hold dear and the fatal contamination of the pornography beetle. May I suggest three specific steps in our battle plan:

First, a return to righteousness. An understanding of who we are and what God expects us to become will prompt us to pray—as individuals and as families. Such a return reveals the constant truth: “Wickedness never was happiness.” 6 Let not the evil one dissuade. We can yet be guided by that still, small voice—unerring in its direction and all-powerful in its influence.

Second, a quest for the good life. I speak not of the fun life, the sophisticated life, the popular life. Rather, I urge each to seek eternal life—life everlasting with mother, father, brothers, sisters, husband, wife, sons, and daughters, forever and forever together.

Third, a pledge to wage and win the war against pernicious permissiveness. As we encounter that evil carrier, the pornography beetle, let our battle standard and that of our communities be taken from that famous ensign of early America, “Don’t tread on me.” 7

Let us join in the fervent declaration of Joshua: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 8

Let our hearts be pure. Let our lives be clean. Let our voices be heard. Let our actions be felt.

Then the beetle of pornography will be halted in its deadly course. Pernicious permissiveness will have met its match. And we, with Joshua, will safely cross over Jordan into the promised land—even to eternal life in the celestial kingdom of our God.

Man and What He May Become

Man and What He May Become by Hugh B. Brown is an excellent and profound discourse given by Elder Brown at a BYU Devotional in March 1958. I listened to this discourse on a recent flight Sarah and I took from Atlanta back to So Cal. I couldn't find it in written/typed form, but you can listen to it HERE.

I have so many ideas I'd like to share but as my mind runs wild with them I realize the most important things are the most simple: love, work and sacrifice.

I hope you are well my friends!

Go to LDSVoices right here for other great discourses by LDS leaders.

Divorce: When Is It Justified?

It seems that more and more of my friends, peers and associates are splitting up or getting divorced.  No, I don't think the world is getting worse all of the sudden, it's simply that I am now thirty years old and many of my friends have been married for 5-10 years and this is when things get tough.  At the heart of divorce I often see selfishness, in one form or another.

Anyhow, a simple google search produced the following resource (I Googled Faust + Divorce or something along those lines since I know the late President James E. Faust of the LDS church spoke on the subject a number of times):

President Spencer W. Kimball
A Happy Marriage is not Automatic, and Divorce is not a Cure for Unhappiness
Marriage and Divorce, pp. 12-13

The divorce itself does not constitute the entire evil, but the very acceptance of divorce as a cure is also a serious sin of this generation. Because a program or a pattern is universally accepted is not evidence that it is right. Marriage never was easy. It may never be. It brings with it sacrifice, sharing, and a demand for great selflessness. ... [We] have come to realize that divorce is not a cure for difficulty, but is merely an escape, and a weak one. ...

Many of the TV and movie screen shows and stories of fiction end with marriage, and "they lived happily ever after." ... [The] mere performance of a ceremony does not bring happiness and a successful marriage. Happiness does not come by pressing a button ... happiness is a state of mind and comes from within. It must be earned. It cannot be purchased with money ...

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President Spencer W. Kimball
Self-Analysis Can Avoid Divorce
Marriage and Divorce, p. 19

Every divorce is the result of selfishness on the part of one or the other or both parties to a marriage contract. Someone is thinking of selfcomforts, conveniences, freedoms, luxuries, or ease. ... If each spouse submits to frequent self-analysis and measures his own imperfections by the yardstick of perfection and the Golden Rule, and if each spouse sets about to correct self in every deviation found by such analysis rather than to set about to correct the deviations in the other party, then transformation comes and happiness is the result. ...

There are many pharisaic people who marry who should memorize the parable of the Savior in Luke—people who prate their own virtues and pile up their own qualities of goodness and put them on the scales against the weaknesses of the spouse. ... Sometimes the ceaseless pinpricking of an unhappy, discontented, and selfish spouse can finally add up ... For every friction, there is a cause; and whenever there is unhappiness, each should search self to find the cause or at least that portion of the cause which originated in that self.

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Pres. James E. Faust
Sympathy and Understanding for Divorced Individuals
To Reach Even unto You, p. 53

Divorce can be justified only in the rarest of circumstances, because it often tears people's lives apart and shears family happiness. Frequently, parties in a divorce lose much more than they gain.

The traumatic experience one goes through in divorce seems little understood and not well enough appreciated. Certainly there needs to be much more sympathy and understanding for those who have experienced this great tragedy and whose lives cannot be reversed. For those who are divorced, there is still much to be hoped for and expected in terms of fulfillment and happiness in life, in the forgetting of self and the rendering of service to others. ...

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Pres. James E. Faust
Reasons for Divorce
To Reach Even unto You, pp. 54-55

There are no simple answers to the complex and challenging questions of happiness in marriage. There are many supposed reasons for divorce. Among them are the serious problems of selfishness, immaturity, lack of commitment, inadequate communication, unfaithfulness, and others that are obvious and well known.

In my experience there is another reason that seems not so obvious but that precedes and laces through all of the others. It is the lack of constant enrichment in marriage. It is an absence of that "something extra" which makes married life precious, special, and wonderful, in spite of its being sometimes drudgery, difficult, and dull. ...

There are a few simple, relevant questions that each person, whether married or contemplating marriage, should honestly ask himself. They are:

• (1) Am I able to think of the interest of my marriage and partner first, before I think of my own desires?
• (2) How deep is my commitment to my companion aside from any other interests?
• (3) Is he or she my best friend?
• (4) Do I have respect for the dignity of my partner as a person of worth and value?
• (5) Do we quarrel over money? (Money itself, or the lack of it, does not seem to make a couple either happy or unhappy, but it is often a symbol of selfishness.)
• (6) Is there a spiritually sanctifying bond between us?

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Pres. James E. Faust
Just Cause for Divorce
Conference Report, April 1993, p. 46

What, then, might be "just cause" for breaking the covenants of marriage? ... I confess I do not claim the wisdom or authority to definitively state what is "just cause." Only the parties to the marriage can determine this. They must bear the responsibility for the train of consequences which inevitably follow if these covenants are not honored.

In my opinion, "just cause" should be nothing less serious than a prolonged and apparently irredeemable relationship which is destructive of a person's dignity as a human being.

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President Gordon B. Hinckley
Respecting Divorced Individuals
Single Adult Fireside Satellite Broadcast, February 26, 1989
Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, pp. 161-162

To you who are divorced, please know that we do not look down upon you as failures because a marriage failed. In many, perhaps in most cases you were not responsible for that failure. Furthermore, ours is the obligation not to condemn, but to forgive and forget, to lift and to help. In your hours of desolation, turn to the Lord, who said: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. . . . For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28, 30).

The Lord will not deny you nor turn you away. The answers to your prayers may not be dramatic; they may not be readily understood or even appreciated. But the time will come when you will know that you have been blessed. For those of you who have children, and struggle to rear them in righteousness, be assured that they will become a blessing and a comfort and a strength to you through all the years to come. ...

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President Spencer W. Kimball
Courting Someone Before a Divorce is Finalized is Sin
Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 143

A husband and wife were quarreling and had reached such a degree of incompatibility that they had flung at one another the threat of divorce and had already seen attorneys. Both of them, embittered, had found companionship with other parties. This was sin. No matter how bitter were their differences, neither had any right to begin courting or looking about for friends. Any dating or such association by wedded people outside the marriage is iniquitous. Even though they proceeded with the divorce suit, to be moral and honorable they must wait until the divorce is final before either is justified in developing new romances.

So long as the marriage covenant has not been legally severed, neither spouse morally may seek new romance or open the heart to other people. After the divorce becomes final, both freed individuals may engage in proper courting activities.

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Presidents David O. McKay & Gordon B. Hinckley
Flirting is a Betrayal of Marital Vows

"A man who has entered into a sacred covenant in the house of the Lord to remain true to the marriage vow is a traitor to that covenant if he separates himself from his wife and family just because he has permitted himself to become infatuated with the pretty face and comely form of some young girl who flattered him with a smile. ...

"[We] are to ... warn these men ... who, after having lived with their wives and brought into this world four and five and six children, get tired of them and seek a divorce, that they are on the road to hell. It is unfair to a woman to leave her that way, merely because the man happens to fall in love with some younger woman and feels that the wife is not so beautiful or attractive as she used to be. Warn him! Nothing but unhappiness for him and injustice to those children can result." (McKay, Gospel Ideals, p. 473)

"Altogether too many men, leaving their wives at home in the morning and going to work, where they find attractively dressed and attractively made-up young women, regard themselves as young and handsome, and as an irresistible catch. They complain that their wives do not look the same as they did twenty years ago when they married them. To which I say, Who would, after living with you for twenty years?" (Hinckley, Conference Report, October 1991)

Sin and Materialism

Thanks to TRUTH SHINETH for the following.

Sin; the root of all evil; the spirit of the devil; possession

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

"All unrighteousness is sin" (1 John 5:17).

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4).

Romans 14:23 states that "whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

"For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin" (D&C 84:51).

Hugh Nibley points out that regarding the verb "to sin," "the Hebrew word khata properly means "to fail or miss, not to hit the mark," exactly like the Greek hamartanein (Genesis 20:6)" (Approaching Zion, 569).

Brigham Young said, "I wish you to understand that sin is not an attribute in the nature of man, but it is an inversion of the attributes God has placed in him. Righteousness tends to an eternal duration of organized intelligence, while sin bringeth to pass their dissolution" (JD 10:251).

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).

"Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10).

Someone once said, "You can never get enough of what you don't need, because what you don't need won't satisfy you" (quoted by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in “Joy and Mercy,” Ensign, November 1991, 73). "Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy" (2 Nephi 9:51).

Joseph F. Smith stated, "It has been very wisely said that 'the knowledge of sin tempteth to its commission.'" (Gospel Doctrine, 373).

"The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men" (Proverbs 24:9).

"But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed" (Mormon 4:5).

"But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head" (Helaman 13:38).

"The devil has no power over us only as we permit him" (TPJS, 181).

The root of all evil

"For the love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). "Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24).

We may try to brush off the former scripture easily, thinking "oh, I'm no lover of money." But if that's true, then why do we continue to do evil, to sin?

If the love of money's the root of all evil, what about during the Council in Heaven? Assuming there wasn't "money" there, how could it be the root of the evil that caused the dissension there? "Love of money" was translated from the greek word philarguria, "which simply means desire for wealth" (Hugh Nibley, Approaching Zion, 142).

Someone named Pastor Ahyh wrote, "Money represents the potential to manifest the material world according to one's wishes. Money = physical options. Why does anyone want money? Because of its abilities to provide what we think we want. The quest for money is the quest for the material world. Desire for money is an expression of attachment to the material world. And why do we seek to manifest the material world? Because we think it will provide comfort, happiness, satisfaction, peace, etc."

The spirit of the devil

Errol R. Fish hypothesized, "Satan may well have spirit in the universe that obeys him, called: the Spirit of the Devil, Satan's Spirit, the Evil Spirit, or Lucifer's Spirit. All spirit is independent in that sphere where God has placed it, to act for itself; and there may be spirit that chooses, of its own free will, to serve Satan" (Promptings of the Spirit, 209).

John Taylor said, "There have been from the foundation of the world two principles and powers--the principles of darkness and the principles of light, the principles of truth and the principles of error, the Spirit of God and the spirit of the Devil;--and there has been a mighty struggle between these two principles and powers. Hitherto the good, the virtuous, the pure and upright, the men of God, the Saints of the Most High have been trampled under foot and cast out--have wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, dwelt in deserts, dens, holes, and caves of the earth, of whom the world was not worthy; and the spirit and power of darkness have prevailed over the powers of light, error over truth, and the spirit of the Wicked One over the Spirit of God, to a certain extent; so much so, that truth, equity, and righteousness have always been at a discount, and men of God have been deprived of their rights and robbed of their inheritances. God has had a certain design to accomplish, associated with the human family; and I suppose that everything which has taken place has been just. I am not going to find fault with God or the Devil. I suppose the Devil is as necessary as any other being, or he would not have been" (JD 6:22-3).

President Joseph F. Smith wrote that the Spirit of God "is the power or the spirit that 'lighteneth every man that cometh into the world,' that prompteth a man to do good, speak the truth, love his neighbor as himself and to 'serve God and keep all His commandments.' This Spirit of the Lord is the antithesis of the spirit of the Devil" (James R. Clark, Messages of the First Presidency 4:33).

In the Dead Sea Scrolls it is written, "All that is now and ever shall be originates with the God of knowledge. Before things come to be, He has ordered all their designs, so that when they do come to exist-- at their appointed times as ordained by His glorious plan-- they fulfill their destiny. . . . He created humankind to rule over the world, appointing for them two spirits in which to walk until the time ordained for His visitation. These are the spirits of truth and falsehood. Upright character and fate originate with the Habitation of Light; perverse, with the Fountain of Darkness. The authority of the Prince of Light extends to the governance of all righteous people; therefore, they walk in the paths of light. Correspondingly, the authority of the Angel of Darkness embraces the governance of all wicked people, so they walk in the paths of darkness. The authority of the Angel of Darkness further extends to the corruption of all the righteous. All their sins, iniquities, shameful and rebellious deeds are at his prompting, a situation God in His mysteries allows to continue until His era dawns. Moreover, all the afflictions of the righteous, and every trial in its season, occur because of this Angel's diabolic rule. All the spirits allied with him share but a single resolve: to cause the Sons of Light to stumble" (Wise et al., The Dead Sea Scrolls, 120-1).

Charles W. Penrose thought that "there must be, as the Book of Mormon says, 'an opposition in all things,' and there is a spirit of evil, a spirit of darkness, which draws downward to death, and a spirit of light which leads upward to life; the one leads to Satan and his works, the other to God and to righteousness. But the inhabitants of the earth generally have been more prone to listen to the inspiration of the spirit of darkness as did our first parents, than to listen to the still small voice of light and life in their souls" (JD 21:82-3).

"And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit; And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom" (2 Nephi 2:28-9).

"And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil" (2 Nephi 33:5).

"I saw armies arrayed against armies. I saw blood, desolation, fires. The Son of man has said that the mother shall be against the daughters, and the daughter against the mother. These things are at our doors. They will follow the Saints of God from city to city. Satan will rage, and the spirit of the devil is now enraged" (TPJS, 161). "There are three independent principles; the Spirit of God, the spirit of man, and the spirit of the devil. All men have power to resist the devil" (TPJS, 189). Joseph Smith asked, "who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits that so frequently are made manifest among the Latter-day Saints? We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood, and having a knowledge of the laws by which spirits are governed; for as no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God, so no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human" (TPJS, 204). "When a man begins to be an enemy to this work, he hunts me, he seeks to kill me, and never ceases to thirst for my blood. He gets the spirit of the devil—the same spirit that they had who crucified the Lord of Life—the same spirit that sins against the Holy Ghost. You cannot save such persons; you cannot bring them to repentance; they make open war, like the devil, and awful is the consequence" (TPJS, 358).

Brigham Young said, "Do you not know that Jesus told the truth when he said, 'They what are not for us are against us?' A great many have our patronage and influence, benefit by our forbearance, and enrich themselves with our cash, but when that is gone, what shall we hear next? 'Wipe them from the earth, put them out of existence and let the earth not be infested with them any longer, for they have no money, no influence for us now; they cannot patronize and promote us, therefore destroy them from the earth.' That is the spirit of the devil which reigns in every man who is not a saint at heart. This wicked principle may lay dormant, to all appearance, year after year, lurking in the flesh, until it increases to such a degree that the flesh has overcome the spirit of light which God implanted in them, when it exhibits itself, and then the cry is, "Destroy the Apostles of Jesus and every one of his true followers; root out that clan which will destroy us unless we destroy them; root them out, that we be no more pestered with them" (JD 3:225).

The above scriptures and quotes indicate that multiple people can have the spirit of the devil. But just like the Holy Ghost, the devil can only be in one place at one time. It is the spirit of God that can be in many righteous people at once. In the subsection"The Infinite Holarchy of Spirit", it had been noted that spirit matter is involved in higher and lower levels. So actually, any spirit that would entice someone to a lower level would be of the devil in a sense, because it would be stopping our upward progress.

It may be possible that idle speculation, seeking too far above our current level, may be detrimental. D&C 93:24-5 states that "truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; And whatsoever is more or less than this [truth] is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning." So we may be enticed to seek more than what is necessary for us at the level we comprehend, or have knowledge of. Jacob 4:14 states that "the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble."

Possession

"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked. And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell" (Alma 34:34-6).

"And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil--for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house--and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil. Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection" (Alma 40:13-4).

"Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing. And it came to pass that the people began to wax strong in wickedness and abominations; and they did not believe that there should be any more signs or wonders given; and Satan did go about, leading away the hearts of the people, tempting them and causing them that they should do great wickedness in the land" (3 Nephi 2:2-3).

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5).

"In your patience possess ye your souls" (Luke 21:19). "And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life" (D&C 101:38).

Not enough time!

Between work, family, calling, eating (preparing, eating, cleaning up), exercising and Gospel study, there just doesn't seem to be enough time!  We've reorganized the primary in our ward and I've been much busier than I had been previously with the duties of my calling.  Combine that with my New Year's Resolution to lose body fat and build lean muscle on my physical body and I wish there were about four more hours in a day.

I have found myself walking the "razors' edge" in terms of my spiritual/Gospel study as I have been using my intellect to try to move beyond the intellect which I know is a paradox (some of you will understand what I mean).  I have therefore been trying to refocus on service and simplicity, which is partially why you don't see more posts here.  There is a time for study and intellect and a time for active service.  They should happen, in my opinion, simultaneously, but there are times when we fall further into one category or the other.  If we are doing neither then we are falling into the illusion and are walking in dangerous paths.

The primary thing I have been thinking of and studying once more is agency/will power/self-discipline.  The will power to love, to follow the Master, The Lord, The Christ.  The will to lose one's own will and accept the will of God.  

Also, with the death of my aunt, I have been striving to think of my own death which is stalking me just as yours is stalking you. Perhaps this sounds melodramatic, but it is not.  We shall all die soon and we should think about this often, it will make us live our lives the way they are intended to be lived.

Another thing I have been contemplating is the nature of suffering.  Spiritual traditions of the East identify these following five things as the primary reasons of suffering:

Not knowing the true nature of reality  Example: Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die and who knows what's going to happen anyway.  OR All that is real is material and everything else if a figment of the imagination.

Holding onto that which is temporal or unreal.  Examples: I can't give up X because it brings me happiness.

Aversion or revulsion or fear of that which is insubstantial, temporal or unreal.  Example: Being afraid of losing one's job.  Afraid of what others think.

Identification with a false, constricted sense of self or ego.  Examples: I am so wonderful.  I am so terrible.

The fear of death (similar to #3).

I leave you with this, my friends:

Stop suffering in your own life.  Gaining experiential, spiritual knowledge is the way to do so.  Doing, not thinking.  The best way to do so is to serve others as the Savior demonstrated.  It won't happen over night and it is nearly impossible in this life to completely stop suffering, but most suffering can end if you want it to and have the will power to accept the fact that suffering and fear are things we allow ourselves to be put through when we give in to Satan and the illusions of the temporal world.

The more we stop suffering, the more we want to serve others to alleviate their suffering.  At this point we become closer to God.

I hope you are choosing to have a happy new year thus far and allowing the unending blessings from God to pour into your life.  I am trying!

Meditation on Truth

It's late and I must arise very early for our 7AM Priesthood meeting.  It's been a long week and one that has found me floundering spiritually on more than one ocassion.  Of course, if you're still here, the same is true for you though, right?  Every day, even every moment, is the key to progression and it's seems impossible in our current state to maintain perfect balance and control, but that is our ultimate goal as we strive toward perfection. 

Before I go to bed I leave you with the following quote about meditation.  I plan on studying the truth this week and meditating on my studies in order to ensure the coming week finds me moving in the right direction instead of staggering blindly through the moments.

"We pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. In our worship there are two elements: One is spiritual communion arising from our own meditation; the other, instruction from others, particularly from those who have authority to guide and instruct us. Of the two, the more profitable introspectively is the meditation. Meditation is the language of the soul. It is defined as 'a form of private devotion, or spiritual exercise, consisting in deep, continued reflection on some religious theme.' Meditation is a form of prayer. . . . Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay, 31-2).

The eco machine that can magic water out of thin air

See original source HERE.

Water, Water, everywhere; nor any drop to drink. The plight of the Ancient Mariner is about to be alleviated thanks to a firm of eco-inventors from Canada who claim to have found the solution to the world's worsening water shortages by drawing the liquid of life from an unlimited and untapped source - the air.

The company, Element Four, has developed a machine that it hopes will become the first mainstream household appliance to have been invented since the microwave. Their creation, the WaterMill, uses the electricity of about three light bulbs to condense moisture from the air and purify it into clean drinking water.

The machine went on display this weekend in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, hosted by Wired magazine at its annual showcase of the latest gizmos its editors believe could change the world. From the outside, the mill looks like a giant golf ball that has been chopped in half: it is about 3ft in diameter, made of white plastic, and is attached to the wall.

It works by drawing air through filters to remove dust and particles, then cooling it to just below the temperature at which dew forms. The condensed water is passed through a self-sterilising chamber that uses microbe-busting UV light to eradicate any possibility of Legionnaires' disease or other infections. Finally, it is filtered and passed through a pipe to the owner's fridge or kitchen tap.

The obvious question to the proposition that household water demands can be met by drawing it from the air is: are you crazy? To which the machine's inventor and Element Four's founder, Jonathan Ritchey, replies: 'Just wait and see. The demand for water is off the chart. People are looking for freedom from water distribution systems that are shaky and increasingly unreliable.'

For the environmentally conscious consumer, the WaterMill has an obvious appeal. Bottled water is an ecological catastrophe. In the US alone, about 30bn litres of bottled water is consumed every year at a cost of about $11bn (£7.4bn).

According to the Earth Policy Institute, about 1.5m barrels of oil - enough to power 100,000 cars for a year - is used just to make the plastic. The process also uses twice as much water as fits inside the container, not to mention the 30m bottles that go into landfills every day in the US. But the mill also has downsides, not least its $1,200 cost when it goes on sale in America, the UK, Italy, Australia and Japan in the spring. In these credit crunch times that might dissuade many potential buyers, though Ritchey points out that at $0.3 per litre, it is much cheaper than bottled water and would pay for itself in a couple of years.

There is also the awkward fact that although there is eight times more atmospheric water than in all the rivers of the world combined, it is unevenly distributed. Those areas of the US that are most desperate for more water - such as the arid south-west where ground water levels are already dramatically depleted - have the lowest levels of moisture in the air.

The mill ceases to be effective below about 30 per cent relative humidity levels, which are common later in the day in states such as Arizona. To combat that problem, the machine has an intelligent computer built into it that increases its output at dawn when humidity is highest, and reduces it from mid-afternoon when a blazing sun dries the air.

Teachings of Joseph Smith on Truth

I loved reading this today and thought I'd share it, minus comments...it's late and I just finished a long email in which I detailed a great deal of information regarding some spiritual ideas and, frankly, I'm feeling taxed...also, I need to stop staying up so late because even though I don't have to work during this period, I'm usually up fairly early to help with the kids and to exercise, so something's got to give and it's not going to be my familial duties!


The gospel of Jesus Christ embraces all truth; the faithful accept the truths God has revealed and put aside false traditions.
“Mormonism is truth; and every man who embraces it feels himself at liberty to embrace every truth: consequently the shackles of superstition, bigotry, ignorance, and priestcraft, fall at once from his neck; and his eyes are opened to see the truth, and truth greatly prevails over priestcraft. …
“… Mormonism is truth, in other words the doctrine of the Latter-day Saints, is truth. … The first and fundamental principle of our holy religion is, that we believe that we have a right to embrace all, and every item of truth, without limitation or without being circumscribed or prohibited by the creeds or superstitious notions of men, or by the dominations of one another, when that truth is clearly demonstrated to our minds, and we have the highest degree of evidence of the same.”5
In January 1843, Joseph Smith had a conversation with some people who were not members of the Church: “I stated that the most prominent difference in sentiment between the Latter-day Saints and sectarians was, that the latter were all circumscribed by some peculiar creed, which deprived its members the privilege of believing anything not contained therein, whereas the Latter-day Saints … are ready to believe all true principles that exist, as they are made manifest from time to time.”6
“I cannot believe in any of the creeds of the different denominations, because they all have some things in them I cannot subscribe to, though all of them have some truth. I want to come up into the presence of God, and learn all things; but the creeds set up stakes [limits], and say, ‘Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further’ [Job 38:11]; which I cannot subscribe to.”7
“I say to all those who are disposed to set up stakes for the Almighty, You will come short of the glory of God. To become a joint heir of the heirship of the Son, one must put away all his false traditions.”8
“The great thing for us to know is to comprehend what God did institute before the foundation of the world. Who knows it? It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty. … That which hath been hid from before the foundation of the world is revealed to babes and sucklings in the last days [see D&C 128:18].”9
“When men open their lips against [the truth] they do not injure me, but injure themselves. … When things that are of the greatest importance are passed over by weak-minded men without even a thought, I want to see truth in all its bearings and hug it to my bosom. I believe all that God ever revealed, and I never hear of a man being damned for believing too much; but they are damned for unbelief.”10
“When God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. The Israelites prayed that God would speak to Moses and not to them; in consequence of which he cursed them with a carnal law.”11
“I have always had the satisfaction of seeing the truth triumph over error, and darkness give way before light.”12

Rosicrucianism Is Very Intriguing

This comes from www.rosicrucian.org, lots of great content to stimulate the mind and spirit. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the Rosicrucians and no one is quite sure about their history and origins. Basically, they are a mystical group with Christian ideals and doctrines. Here is an excerpt from their site: The Journey into Self and The Mystical Path The Lost Self Is it any wonder the inner self becomes lost in the business of the outer world? From childhood we begin hiding our inner self away. We learn to adapt and survive in the outside world. Our families and peers teach us socially acceptable behaviour. Our educational system teaches us the technical and social skills we need to sustain a material life. As adults we are thrust into a society geared towards materialism, and maintaining the status quo. Rarely, especially in the early formative years, are we taught inner development; with an emphasis on intuition, the subconscious mind, independent thinking, self esteem, self-confidence, psychic or inner spiritual growth. Is it any wonder the inner self becomes lost in the business of the outer world? Yet despite all this the inner self does remain alive in everyone, and many are ready to heed its call. That is why the Rosicrucian Order is in existence today and has been for centuries, offering people a way to realize their own infinitely powerful and divine nature. Life is Difficult Life is a constant challenge of overcoming obstacles that stand in the way of creating a better family life, developing a successful career, securing material needs, maintaining one's health and even coping with death. This eternal struggle should not be cause for despair because it is through successfully overcoming challenges in life that you evolve. The purpose of the Rosicrucian teachings is to learn how to find the answers within yourself. Inspiration, energy, and even specific answers to all challenges of life are available when one learns the proper techniques. The Path of the Mystic As a Rosicrucian student, you will be walking along the path of the mystic. It is a path travelled by a relative few at any one time. Yet, it is the path that has given us many of our greatest minds, enriching the world with their physical inventions, scientific discoveries, beautiful works of art, music and books, but most importantly, their personal approach to life. And it is the path each must travel in their own time if they are to reach their ultimate personal evolution. Mysticism Demystified Just what is meant when we use the word 'mysticism'. A proper definition has always been elusive or vague. For the record, mysticism can be defined as an experience where one personally knows, through direct knowledge, the source of all being. Many call this source God; others, the cosmic. The point is, the experience is noetic. We know, not believe through faith or know only through scientific observation, but we simply and truly know. The art of mysticism can be learned. The work of the Rosicrucian Order is to initiate the student to the techniques where mystical knowledge can be readily attained. This knowledge when properly accessed is ultimately rational. In the end mysticism isn't a belief. It is simply an art of knowing. The mystical experience transcends nature. Often the person will receive a feeling that far surpasses anything which could be conveyed by words. Furthermore, this insight, devoid of ego, is thoroughly comprehended as truthful. <<> NEXT >>

The Cyclic "Depressions" of the Secular World

I excerpted this from a recent post by my friends over at Gnostic Teachings and I thought it was uplifting. While I may not be in agreement with all of their teachings, I truly enjoy studying their esoteric doctrine which, in the end, much like my own faith, they invite one to experience, not to believe (a key difference between many belief systems). The reason I excerpted this is because of the ridiculous way the media portrays the current economic "crisis," one they have definitely helped create and are surely exasperating:

At these moments, humanity is facing a tremendous psychological [spiritual- they use the terms interchangeably] battle, displayed by our governments and media as a financial “crisis” that they say is cause for grave concern. Subsequently, there is a great deal of fear and anxiety being spread infectiously throughout our communities and families, and the level of tension and uncertainty is rising everywhere. Everyone is worried about their money, the future, and what "might" happen. In these moments, it is helpful to remember the Gnostic teachings, which provide us with wonderful tools to overcome the many problems we face in life.

Rejecting Negative Emotions

Negative emotions are the most dangerous element we face, and we must protect ourselves from becoming infected by fear, excitement, or any kind of unconscious reaction. When we allow ourselves to be infected by negative emotions, we open the doors of our mind to suffering. To become free of suffering, we need to close our doors to negative emotions.

It is clear that humanity is deeply enslaved by a dependency upon money. Samael Aun Weor explained many times that while money is a tool that is useful in life, it becomes harmful when we develop psychological dependency upon it. In Gnosis, we define psychological dependency as slavery. A slave does not have free will. When we are enslaved by a psychological dependency of any kind, it is easy for us to be manipulated. Therefore, we need to free ourselves of our psychological dependency upon money. The result of such freedom is that we can be happy naturally, no matter if we are rich or poor. Is this not a desirable state of being?

When we close our doors to negative emotions and refuse to rely psychologically on money, we can place our trust in our own innermost Being (God, Allah, Buddha, etc). This is what Jesus taught when he advised:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. - Matthew 6:19-21

Transformation of Circumstances

If we do happen to have poor personal circumstances, the Gnostic teachings emphasize that it is possible to transform them, but only if we truly want to change them. If so, then we need to work with the law of the balance. For example, if we are suffering financially, then we need to help others financially [through service]. In this way, we balance the scale in our favor, and everyone benefits.

This aspect of the teaching is particularly hard for the mind to grasp, which always complains that if we focus on others, we will not gain money to eat, to be clothed, or to pay our rent. We forget the teaching that Jesus gave:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [money]. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. - Matthew 6:24-34

It is upon the foundation indicated by these sublime words that we as a humanity can overcome the challenges that face us. Do we put our faith in paper money, government, banks, and television reporters? Or do we put our faith in the One who awaits us inside?

A Wicked Generation?

I often argue against the idea that the end is nigh (for what man knoweth the hour?), although I do agree that the world is steadily growing worse in that the average individual, at least in developed countries, relies less and less on the will and beneficence of God and, instead, relies more on their intellectual faculties. Actually, scratch that, the individual, currently classified as "Millennials" or Generation Y relies more on what they're told by Godless intellectuals and, instead, consumes endlessly in an attempt to fulfill desire which, as any slightly enlightened soul knows, is impossible. Anyway, here are some "Trends Among Members" of Gen Y according to the Wikipedia article about them as a group:

• They represent more than 70 million consumers in the United States. They earn a total annual income of about $211 billion, spend approximately $172 billion per year and strongly influence many adult consumer buying choices. They also face a greater degree of direct corporate marketing than any other generation in history.^[9]
• A 2008 survey by UK recruitment consultancy FreshMinds Talent in partnership with Management Today suggested that Generation Y are generally more ambitious, brand conscious and tend to move jobs more often than previous generations. The survey of over 1,000 people, entitled Work 2.0, also suggests several possible misconceptions about Generation Y, including that they are as loyal as their predecessors and believe that their job says something about them as individuals.^[10]
• There is more experience of family breakdown. The generation has seen high divorce rates, and homes with 2 working parents are much more common. This has greatly changed their relationships at home when compared to their parents and grandparents. This may have led them to be more peer-oriented and this may be a contributing factor to the premium that Gen Y workers place on workplace culture.^[11]
• A 2007 episode of the American news magazine 60 Minutes entitled The Age Of The Millennials proposed that members of the generation are exceptionally tech-savvy, are especially tuned to their own value in the job market, have limited loyalty to any particular employer, and insist on working in a stimulating job environment.^[12]
• More openness in regards to sexual and romantic life-styles than prior generations. Generally more openness to sexual expression and experimentation, but with less or even totally without romance or attachments.^[13][14]

I don't have time to go into great detail on this subject, but suffice to say that right now what we need is the strongest generation ever to fight against the increasingly large spiritual void that is opening up at one of the core hubs of our society: educational institutions. Sure, there are many "right wing Bible bashers" in the Midwest and the South, BUT the lion's share of secular leaders are being led astray at the major colleges and universities by a philosophy that doesn't outwardly seek to do harm but, because of its perverse and empty core, will inevitably lead to absolute disaster in the long run. So, we must strengthen ourselves and our families and FEAR NOT and be not shocked when the calamities befall us. I, for one, was and am not shocked at what has happened to our markets in the last few weeks and months. President Hinckley, amongst others, has cried out against consumer debt which, in the end, was inexorably linked into the deregulation of credit markets as the greedy, both in homes and in the office, sought to run faster than was meet.

Forgive my writing for I shall not edit tonight!

The Gospel’s Unchanging Core

The Church, with all its organizational structure and programs, offers many important activities for its members aimed at helping families and individuals to serve God and each other. Sometimes, however, it can appear that these programs and activities are closer to the center of our heart and soul than the core doctrines and principles of the gospel. Procedures, programs, policies, and patterns of organization are helpful for our spiritual progress here on earth, but let’s not forget that they are subject to change.

In contrast, the core of the gospel—the doctrine and the principles—will never change. Living according to the basic gospel principles will bring power, strength, and spiritual self-reliance into the lives of all Latter-day Saints.