January 7, 2011

Tonight I read and thought about one verse in The Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 18:18. It says, "ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." The phrase that I thought about was that Satan desires to have me so he can sift me like wheat. I am not totally sure what it means to sift wheat and would like to learn more about it so as to understand this analogy better. But as far as I can think, one sifts wheat to separate the good kernels from the bad. The bad is tossed aside, not good enough to be used for anything. So why would Satan desire to sift me like wheat? The analogy could mean he desires to divide us against each other. Or it could be that he desires "the good wheat" as much as God does, but for different reasons... perhaps so he can take that good wheat and toss it out and make sure it is never used for anything good. Pondering this verse really makes me want to learn more about sifting wheat so I can understand what this scripture is saying. Why does Satan want me so much? I know he wants to keep me separated from God, love and anything that brings eternal happiness. I am grateful for the gospel and the protection I have of the Spirit so as not to "enter into Satan's temptations."

November 28, 2010

Tonight I was turning through the pages of my new conference Ensign and my eye caught on a talk called Courageous Parenting by Elder Larry R. Lawrence of the Seventy. I read it and really feel there was some wise counsel in it. This talk was written specifically for parents of teenagers. I don't have teenagers yet, but just like I have prepared myself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for being a mother, I do the same thing for being a mother of teenagers (as well as other things, like serving a mission when I'm older and becoming a grandparent.) I really feel it's important for me to look to the future in that way and to prepare myself mentally and emotionally and spiritually for what I may encounter. So while I am not a parent of teenagers, I really appreciated this talk and was able to apply it to myself.

First of all, I really liked his analogy of having a child sitting on the railroad tracks and hearing the train whistle blowing. How would I act under those circumstances? Certainly I would not casually stand by and hope my child heard the whistle, or resign myself to watching them get run over by a train if they chose to ignore my warnings. "[I] would value [their] life more than [their] temporary goodwill" and do everything I could to quickly move my child to a safe place. He says, "challenges and temptations are coming at our teenagers with the speed and power of a freight train." That means it is vitally important for me, as a parent, to protect my children "spiritually as well as physically."

I want to teach my children to recognize and heed spiritual promptings from a young age, and I believe they will then appreciate my spiritual warnings because they will have experience themselves with "trying to recognize the Spirit when He speaks," and they will respect my attempts to do the same. I feel it is so important for children to receive their own spiritual witnesses and stand on their own testimony from as early of an age as possible. This is what I hope to help my children develop.

I really appreciated the counsel he gave about supporting and respecting a spouse's spiritual feelings about things, because truly it is "important for husbands and wives to be united." It takes trust, love and support to get rid of something, turn something off, avoid something, or say 'no' if one spouse "feels uncomfortable about a movie, a television show, a video game, a party, a dress, a swimsuit, or an Internet activity." I want to parent that way with my husband.

I also thought it wise counsel when he said that "peer pressure becomes more powerful when our children are away from our influence and when their defenses are weakened late at night," in talking of being careful about sleepovers. It's definitely something to be mindful of. He mentioned "five fundamental practices that have the power to fortify our youth: family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, family dinner together and regular one on one interviews with each child." Those are all practices that I am striving to develop into habits within our family because I do believe they offer great spiritual protection.

November 19, 2010

Tonight I read D&C 29:40-50. I was very intrigued by verses 46-48. It says that little "children cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me." I wanted to find the scripture that says children are accountable before God when they are eight years old. I found the scripture I was look for in D&C 68:25, 27, but it doesn't say quite exactly what I thought. It says in verse 27 that "children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when they are eight years old." The earlier scripture said that little children cannot sin, yet this scripture says children are baptized for the remission of their sins. So I believe this means that the actual "age of accountability" is sometime BEFORE age eight. I really don't think it is any time before three years old, but at some point, when "little children" turn into "children" they become accountable before God. I always thought that children weren't accountable UNTIL age eight, but I don't think that is truly the case. In fact, in D&C 68:25 it also mentions "age eight," but not in reference to the child being accountable. Rather, it refers to the parents, basically giving a deadline to the parents that if they haven't taught their children to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ, baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the time a child turns eight, then the PARENT is accountable and it is considered a sin on their part. It's important to note that the parents this deadline is given to is "parents that have children in Zion." So from what I've read tonight, I've learned that the age of accountability comes before age eight, at some point, and it is probably different from individual to individual. I learned that parents in Zion are expected to help their children understand the first principles and ordinances of the gospel, and that they have until their children are eight years old to teach them that.

I find great comfort in knowing that Satan is not allowed to tempt my sweet little son at this point in his life. And also, for that very reason, I feel a great responsibility to instill in his heart righteous principles and to help him establish a pattern of obedience so that the foundation is strong from his youth and cannot be tampered with. These early years are so vital in accomplishing the Lord's work in my role as mother to help my children learn to walk in His ways. This is not the time to allow distraction to take over. I must be vigilant and teach and live by example while my children are still before their age of accountability because then they cannot be tempted by Satan.

November 18, 2010

I read Alma 48 tonight which talked of Moroni's preparations while Amalakiah was attaining the kingdom. I really like the significance of the way Moroni prepared for battle. The most important thing he did was to fortify what he knew were the weakest spots. There he put the greatest number of men. I find that significant in relating it to the daily battles I fight against the adversary. He knows my weakest spots, so the more attention and fortification I put there, the more prepared and protected I'll be against his attacks. One way I have found to accomplish this is to talk with my husband when serious temptations are attacking my weak spots. Even though it is uncomfortable to talk about those weak spots, I share with him exactly what temptations are coming at me and I have found that after talking to him about it, the forces basically disappear from attacking me. Whereas if I didn't talk to him about it and just kept it quiet, I think it would be so much easier to give way to those temptations.

I also love the great faith of Moroni and his people. They truly believed in the promise of the Lord that if they keep the commandments they will prosper in the land. They completely trusted that God would reveal to them where to go and what to do to defend themselves adequately against the Lamanites. I believe that promise holds true today and have certainly witnessed the seeming miracle of our needs being taken care of always. Even in these difficult financial times we are still blessed and I believe it is because we keep the Lord's commandments. I plan to always be worthy of that great blessing.

November 15, 2010

Tonight I read chapter 46 of Alma which was about Moroni raising the title of liberty in response to hearing of the dissensions caused by the cunning leadership of Amalakiah. It is sad and interesting to note that "there were many in the church who believed... Amalakiah... and dissented... from the church." How quickly can some people's minds be changed. How quickly people can "forget the Lord their God." I love Moroni's determined response of writing down the things he was willing to fight for... all the reasons why he wouldn't be led away. And then he displayed those reasons and called out for action from the rest of his people. It really does take a daily visual reminder of what is worth fighting for to have the strength to withstand temptation.

June 15, 2010

Today I am reading a Conference talk by Jeffrey R. Holland. It is called Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul. This talk had to do with how to protect ourselves from immoral actions that destroy families. It is true that all of us are "assaulted by immoral messages of some kind flooding in on us from every angle." And it is also true that, as he points out, "immoral activity isn't just a man's problem." I have been tempted with immoral thoughts myself. I made a point, even though it was not easy, to talk to my husband about the temptations facing me. And let me tell you, it was so much easier to talk to him about the thoughts I've had instead of waiting and having the burden of sinful choices on my soul! In fact, talking with him about the thoughts and temptations that were plaguing me really helped strengthen me. I haven't been bothered with those thoughts since then, but I know that they, and others, may strike at any time. That is why I am grateful for this talk and the reminders about how to protect myself from the assault of immorality.

One suggestion he gave really struck me. This is what he says: "If a TV show is indecent, turn it off. If a movie is crude, walk out. If an improper relationship is developing, sever it. Many of these influences, at least initially, may not technically be evil, but they can blunt our judgment, dull our spirituality, and lead to something that could be evil. An old proverb says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, so watch your step." This really was a good reminder to me, especially where he says these influences may not technically be evil. I have found myself justifying certain things before... a movie, or a relationship... and using that very reasoning... this isn't evil. So I am grateful for the guidance here that even if the particular influence is not evil... "watch your step!"

His next suggestion has to do with thoughts and this one I have given much thought to due to a recent experience I had. I was away from my husband, attending a business convention for the weekend, and I cannot even begin to describe how heavily and forcefully the adversary began attacking me. It began with thoughts and he was trying desperately to get me to accept and embrace the ideas that a thought doesn't hurt... it's just a thought... no one can ever know what you're thinking... indulge yourself a little... you can have some real fun with your thoughts and no one will know... it's not like you'll be doing anything... and on and on. It was quite incredible how forceful Satan's attack was. I am very grateful for the Spirit and my choice to read good literature, for at this convention, in the inbetween times when I was just sitting in my seat, I would open up a book I had brought with me. I was reading Norman Vincent Peale's The Power of Positive Living. And in it he quoted someone and I will never forget reading these words, "Thoughts are the ancestors to deeds." I loved the word "ancestor" because it implies giving birth. And giving birth is something that is basically inevitable. With no complications, a woman impregnated will give birth to a living, breathing human being. So when I read that, it was like I could look into the future and see the pedigree chart, so to say, of what kinds of deeds the thoughts I was being tempted with would give birth to. And then and there, I decided surely that I would not allow a single one of those innocent seeming thoughts to take root in my mind, for if I did, they surely would bear deeds down the road that would tear me away from everything I want and hold dear in my life. It was a powerful lesson for me, and I'm glad that I have now recorded it.

My favorite part from this talk is this: "If you are endowed, go to the temple as often as your circumstances allow. Remember that the temple arms you with God's power... puts His glory round about you, and gives His angels charge over you. And when you leave the temple, remember the symbols you take with you, never to be set aside of forgotten." I have felt the protecting power of the temple and this has inspired me to want to attend more frequently so that I can continually have that protecting armor around me. Because it really is a constant battle for souls. I know Satan wants me and will never give up on attacking me. But there is something I want more, and that is an eternal marriage and family. I will do everything I can to keep my relationship with my husband holy and undefiled. I want our family to be forever.