Talk for Sunday, July 19, 2012

When I was moving back to California from Idaho I was excited since I had not gone on a long road trip by myself before. As I was driving past Preston, Idaho near the Utah border, a deer crossed in front of the road in front of my car. Deer are generally considered dainty creatures, delicate and graceful. This buck, however, had definitely been working out. As I rather hurriedly put on the brakes I noticed every detail about it. The muscles rippled under its sleek brown coat. Although still covered in velvet, each antler had five very impressive points. And instead of running across the road, the buck was rather calmly walking across the road. My little Corolla didn’t bother it in the slightest. Most of us know to avoid the bear sized sins. We’re not likely to murder someone, or commit armed robbery. But what about those sins that from a distance don’t really LOOK all that dangerous. On a hill a football field away I may have thought, “oh look! Bambi’s dad!” Going to a private party where everyone else is drinking may not seem like a big deal. But then comes the decision: Do I put on the breaks, or do I fall to the guy standing next to me who keeps saying that, “One drink won’t hurt you. It’s wine, you’d have class, my friend.” If I do drink my glass of wine, will I be able to resist that very attractive lady that is motioning towards the dance floor as they start playing one of my favorite songs. Who knows what will happen after the song. Wouldn’t it have been better if I had called up the girl and gone on a date that didn’t involve alcohol and private residences in the first place? The best thing to do is avoid these situations in the first place. Two stories from the scriptures illustrate how to proceed when confronted with temptation. In chapter 6 of Nehemiah, Nehemiah and his men are rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Three leaders of an enemy people come and ask him to come and visit them at the bottom of the wall. Nehemiah however does not do what they ask but replies in verse 3, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” The leaders come four more times and say the same thing. Nehemiah refuses them all four times. By the end of the chapter the wall of Jerusalem is rebuilt. In chapter 11 of Alma in The Book of Mormon, Alma and Amulek are preaching the gospel in Ammonihah. As Amulek is teaching, a wicked man named Zeezrom offers him some money if he will deny that Heavenly Father is real. Amulek explains that, “the righteous yieldeth to no such temptation.” (Alma 11:23) In each case the righteous men had already made the decision to resist sin when it came. Being ready to withstand temptation is a daily job. Having the Gift of the Holy Ghost with us every day will aid us in withstanding temptation. At the start of every day, say a prayer. The Savior taught that whatsoever a person would ask that was right he or she would receive it. The Savior also taught that we should never cease to pray in our hearts. When we always have a prayer in our hearts we will open our hearts and minds to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. The eighth Article of Faith states, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.” Within the pages of the scriptures are words that contain the impressions of the Holy Ghost for all of us. It is essential for me to read the scriptures daily. With what appears to be undiagnosed ADD and a rather flighty and active imagination it can be difficult for me to tell the difference between a spiritual prompting and my own thoughts. As a rather voracious reader I can quiet my brain down with a book in my hand, and thus as I feast from the pages of the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, I can receive my instructions from the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith was correct when he said that The Book of Mormon could get a man closer to God, than by any other book. President Hinckley said that as we read from The Book of Mormon our ability to withstand temptation would increase (April 2005 General Conference.) Eventually I have to put up the scriptures and get to my day. As I go about the various activities I can see how the morning prayer and scripture reading helps me. At some point in the day some temptation or reason to transgress will present itself. But having already invited the Holy Ghost as a companion for that day I have the strength to reject the temptation. Although it is best to avoid it none of us are perfect and eventually we commit a sin, however slight it may seem. When a sin is committed repentance is needed. In the scriptures there are several good examples of repentant people. After seeing an angel and being in a coma for three days Alma repented. Lamoni and his father also had similar experiences after being overcome with the Spirit. For most people angels and three-day comas are not part of the program. Corianton, one of Alma’s sons needed to repent. He had a talk with his Priesthood leader, his father. After he understood in faith what he had done was wrong he was forgiven. Other examples in the scriptures involve personal humbling and prayers for forgiveness. This is where the most exciting and most important part of the Gospel comes to light. The Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us. He died and was resurrected, all for us. Although we may sin, big and small every day, He has covered our sins with His blood when we show active faith in Him. Each of us should gain for ourselves a testimony that what He wants for us is the best thing to do. Jesus himself showed this humility when despite the pain He was going through in Gethsemane, He bowed to the will of our Father in Heaven when the Atoning One said, “Father, if Thou be willing remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will, but Thine be done.” (Luke 22:42) Although He was in pain from what He was being asked to do, Jesus did what the Father asked of Him. In our lives we may miss out on fun things, we may lose people we love, but if we follow the Savior’s example then in the end we will hear Him say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, thou has been faithful unto a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter into the joy of thy Lord.”(Matthew 25: 21, 23) Through repentance and the Atonement we can be blessed and given more than we could imagine while in our mortal condition. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.