"It's 'Only' Violence"

     I read another article that applied to me quite a bit and I would love to share some of it to y'all; it was called "It's 'Only' Violence." It begins with an eye opening story that really caught my attention.

     "Not long ago I decided to conduct an informal survey to find out about Church members' views on television and movies. When I asked members what makes some movies and TV shows objectionable, the most common response was sexually explicit scenes, followed by profanity. Nobody mentioned violence. When I asked about specific movies, a common response was, 'That movie had only one bad scene.' I asked, 'What happened? Did someone get killed?' The answer was always the same: 'No. It was a sex scene.'" When I applied myself to this I realized that not very often do I consider violence as something that makes a movie objectionable. I often find myself enjoying a good little battle between good and evil and don't even raise a thought to how it may be offensive for God to see us enjoying that. Now I am not saying that your classic Jerry smashing a pan in Tom's face is what is being talked about here. I think it is more of a Jack Bauer tearing some terrorist's guts out to get some information, or a Jason Bourne fighting with a hand towel to win the fight and chokes a guy with a power cord type of thing, both of which I have enjoyed. 

     It continues, "Sex outside of marriage is a serious sin. In fact, Alma taught that it was among the most grievous of sins. But what did Alma rank as the two most serious sins? Denying the Holy Ghost and 'shedding … innocent blood,' or committing murder (Alma 39:5–6). I was puzzled that many [people] did not feel concerned about watching people being murdered on the screen. And many seemed to consider profanity to be more objectionable than violence in movies and TV programs." I, myself, have never really thought of violence as something that was that bad too watch, like I said before, but when you consider the fact that to God the only thing worse is denying the Holy Ghost it changes my perspective a bit. 

     But why could this possibly be so bad for our society? "The Spirit is offended when we pollute our minds with harmful, violent material, whether or not such material causes us to commit violent acts. Consuming violent media makes it more difficult to keep ourselves 'unspotted from the world' (James 1:27). It is troubling that so many people consider it entertaining to view violence or play violent video games." He says that even if the violence we see does not make us more violent it does keep us from having the Spirit. Now the fact of whether violence actually causes someone to be more violent is questionable. However, it is much more feasible and realistic that seeing violence causes one to be more violent, as displayed in many of the studies from the article.

     If I was to address every point in the article this post would be huge so I will end it here and recommend that y'all read it. I would however like to end with one quote to get those gears in your head spinning. "By the time the average American child graduates from elementary school, he or she will have seen more than 8,000 murders and more than 100,000 other assorted acts of violence, such as assaults, on network television. The numbers are even higher if the child has access to cable television or a videocassette or DVD player, as most do."

Modesty

     My last post was mostly directed towards the men so this one is directed mainly towards the women. Why is it so important to be modest? I don't believe women understand the influence they can have over a man just by the things they wear. I would like to start off with an address that an Apostle of the Lord gave to use.
     "Worldly trends in women's fashion are always inviting extremes. With their latest styles many fashion designers appear to be trying to make two or three dresses out of the amount of fabric necessary for one. Mostly, they are taking too much off the top and too much off the bottom of women's clothing, and occasionally they scrimp in the middle too." -L. Tom Perry (Nov. 2008 Ensign, Let Him Do It with Simplicity.)
     The world's changing morals are spinning out of control as to where the general opinion seems to be the less you are wearing the "hotter" you are. I would love to tell y'all the coined phrase "modest is hottest," but it is unfortunately not always viewed that way. The fact of the matter is that men are naturally attracted to what women have and vice versa. The more that women show generally the more men are attracted. My message to all is to dress modest and help us all out in being virtuous. It is so important to be modest because it shows the respect you have for others as well as yourself.
     It continues, "Many of you are trying too hard to be unique in your dress and grooming to attract what the Lord would consider the wrong kind of attention. In the Book of Mormon story of the tree of life, it was the people whose 'manner of dress was exceedingly fine' who mocked those who partook of the fruit of the tree. It is sobering to realize that the fashion-conscious mockers in the great and spacious building were responsible for embarrassing many, and those who were ashamed 'fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.'"
     Are you one of those "fashion-conscious mockers in the great and spacious building [whom] were responsible for embarrassing many?" I am in no way saying that being fashion-conscious is a bad thing. However, I am saying it is not okay to not accept or even make fun of those who are not as fashion-conscious as you may be. Everyone is different and we should accept all for how they are. Let us not be too caught up in our pride to disassociate ourselves from those who may be less fortunate.

"Leave It Alone"

     I want to talk a little bit about an article I was reading that struck me as important to write about; it was called "Leave It Alone." I am not sure why I felt it was important, but I did so hopefully it touches and helps someone.

     I would like to start off with a little excerpt. "I plead with you to leave it alone. Stay away from any movie, video, publication, or music—regardless of its rating—where illicit behavior and expressions are part of the action. Have the courage to turn it off in your living room. Throw the tapes and the publications in the garbage can, for that is where we keep garbage."

     My advice to all would be "Don't Start!" However, if you already have, "Stop It!" The path it takes you on is not worth it. People may think they are casually watching and listening to this type of so-called entertainment. They think they are spiritually strong and will be immune to its influence. They do not realize that they are trapped or else soon will be. It will relieve you from the troubles of your day and it will give you immediate pleasure. In reality, it is only relieving you of your spirituality and your capacity to draw on the powers of heaven in times of need. The consequences are eternal. "Satan has slyly and slowly lowered the social norms of morality to a tragic and destructive level." I plead with y'all to not let this spiritually destructive disease get you. Avoid it like the plague, for it is just as destructive.

     "The secret to cleansing our spirit of whatever the impurity is not very complicated. It begins with sincere, heartfelt prayer every morning and ends with prayer every night. This is the most important step I know in the cleansing process. It may simply be a prayer for strength to turn from bad habits, or a prayer that sin will be distasteful to you.

     Meanwhile, remember that not all prayers are answered the same day or even the next day. Sometimes it takes a long time. If you have tried and have given up, I plead with you to try again and again and again. Our Heavenly Father will not forsake your efforts if you persist.
     The second step in this plan of attack is to gain an added measure of spiritual strength through a daily study of the scriptures. Your study need not be long, but it should be every day. If I were you, I would read the scriptures tonight and never let a day pass without reading in them, even if only for a few minutes. The scriptures assist us to overpower darkness with light.
     The third step that I would counsel is: when necessary, receive the blessing that comes in the confession process. Too many are harboring the inner feeling of guilt resulting from unrepented mistakes. Part of the repentance process is confession. If you happen to be one of those who has this need, I plead with you to go see your bishop before the sun sets tomorrow."

     I know that this is inspired of God. We have no need to let this destructive enemy get us. If you are in this trap, I plead with you to get help. The lack of the Spirit in your life is too great a price.

Learn to Laugh

     Sometimes in life stuff happens. There have been many times in my life where I would love to just go back in time 5 minutes or so to redo something, or even times when I just want to wish my problems away. Obviously that doesn't usually happen so I just have to do something else. I really enjoy this talk about how to handle these bad situations whenever they arive. I will share with you a part that I really enjoy.
     "The first thing we can do is learn to laugh. Have you ever seen an angry driver who, when someone else makes a mistake, reacts as though that person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors all the way back to Adam? Or have you had an encounter with an overhanging cupboard door left open at the wrong place and the wrong time which has been cursed, condemned, and avenged by a sore-headed victim?
     There is an antidote for times such as these: learn to laugh." -Joseph B. Wirthlin (Nov. 2008 Ensign, Come What May, and Love It.)
     I know that if we can just look for the positive in all aspects of life we will be able to make it through without too many cuts and bruises. I know that God loves us all and wants us to be happy so "Learn to Laugh!"

Resurrection

     Why do we celebrate Easter? Easter to me is a time where I can remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ did for me and especially His resurrection. Even though I try to remember Christ in all that I do and live my life in a way that shows I love Him, this time of year is especially special. We celebrate Easter to remember Christ's resurrection. Christ did die for us and suffer all of our pains so we could all be saved and now He lives. He conquered death so that we could all be saved from physical death.
     When our prophet, Gordon B Hinckley, was asked why in all of our buildings and elsewhere do we not have any crosses to denote our belief in Christ, he replied, "The cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the living Christ.” He was then asked, “If you do not use the cross, what is the symbol of your religion?” He then replied "The lives of our people must become the only meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship." (Apr. 1990 New Era, The Symbol of Christ.) I truly believe that the perfect symbol of faith in Christ is by the way you live your life. It is one thing to claim belief in Christ and another thing to live it.
     I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and cannot imagine what my life would be like without Him in it. I am so grateful for His sacrifice for me of which I could not do myself. I know that because of Him I can return again to my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful that I can serve Him and teach people all over about Him and help them to build or strengthen their relationship with Him that they may have not had before. He lives and loves us still the same. He is my Redeemer, my Savior, Lord, and King. I know that my Redeemer lives!

Scourged and Crucified

     Continuing with my Easter theme on this "Good Friday", I am brought to the Savior being scourged and crucified. Jesus Christ had the power to stop everything that happened to Him at any time he very well pleased, but He knew that this sacrifice of Himself was essential for the rest of us. I can't emphasize this enough, Christ was so selfless that He gave His life for us. He loves us so much to suffer the pains of death. His life was made short in order for us to be saved.
     "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
     Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
     But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5.)
     The Savior continued to suffer for our sins when He allowed Himself to be crucified. On the cross, He allowed Himself to die, and His body was then laid in a tomb. I love my Savior so very much and know that I could not make it through life without his redeeming power. I ask y'all to remember the Savior in your lives especially during this Easter season.

Suffering in Gethsemane

     How much do you appreciate Jesus Christ? Do you love Him as much as He loves you? Does your life show it? With Easter approaching, I though I would focus my next few posts on what the Savior, Jesus Christ, did for us the few days preceding His resurrection. These questions I asked are questions that I think are very important for us to think about each and every day, multiple times a day even. How we answer these questions will tell us how much we need to change in order for Christ's Atonement to have any real effect on us.
     Jesus Christ atoned for our sins. To atone means to suffer the penalty for sins, thereby removing the effects of sin from the repentant sinner and allowing him or her to be reconciled to God. We know that Jesus was the only one capable of doing this and because He did so, we are able to enjoy the benefits that come from it. His sacrifice is free to all who accept him as their Savior. All he asks of us is to have faith in Him, repent and try our best to live worthy lives. We do not need to ask him to be our Savior, because He has already suffered for us; we just have to accept Him and His suffering for us. One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible describes His suffering:
     "And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
     Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
     And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
     And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:41-44.)

     I know that Jesus Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for me. I know that through him and his sacrifice I can be saved for the things I do wrong. I know that if each man was the only man to walk the Earth, Christ still would have done what He did. I love my Savior so much. I ask you to ponder those questions I asked before, and if Christ is not in your life as much as you would like I invite you to change that. Let Christ change your life forever.