Talk About Lust!

I gave my talk yesterday while visiting another ward. Despite my nerves over the subject matter, it seemed to go well. Here is what I had to say:

When Brother Sondrup called me and invited me to speak with him today I gladly accepted and then asked what topic we were assigned. He told me we were given the general conference address by Elder Holland--and immediately I recalled from our Relief Society lesson a few weeks ago that this was the talk given in conference on LUST. Yikes! I thought to myself. But I understand the prophet Jacob's feelings when he said:

Jacob 2:7-10
7 And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you, before ...many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God;
8 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.
9 Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God...
10 But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according to the strict commands of God,

My prayer today is that the Spirit will attend us as I express those thoughts that have come to my mind as I prepared to speak with you today on this very important, if a little uncomfortable, topic.

Elder Holland recalled meeting, with Sister Holland, three young women in an airport who, after some introductions and greetings, told the apostle something of their lives. They told of marriages that had been shattered by pornography, and of marital infidelity.

"Perhaps it was the father in me or maybe the grandfather, but the tears in those young women’s eyes brought tears to mine and Sister Holland’s, and the questions they asked left me asking, “Why is there so much moral decay around us, and why are so many individuals and families, including some in the Church, falling victim to it, being tragically scarred by it?”

"But, of course, I knew at least part of the answer to my own question. Most days we all find ourselves assaulted by immoral messages of some kind flooding in on us from every angle. The darker sides of the movie, television, and music industry step further and further into offensive language and sexual misconduct. Tragically, the same computer and Internet service that allows me to do my family history and prepare those names for temple work could, without filters and controls, allow my children or grandchildren access to a global cesspool of perceptions that could blast a crater in their brains forever."

The Lord knew the wonders that today's technology would offer us. Yet, He certainly knew that Satan would twist all that was good in these technologies and make them into something where evil can lurk, prosper, and lead others in.

A loving Heavenly Father has given us directives on how to avoid this trouble. From the beginning of our scriptures, examples were given that we might learn what to do and what to avoid doing. Take the story of Joseph in Egypt who, when he was propositioned by Potipher's wife refused , "fled and got him out."

A lot of things may have changed, but the sensualities of the carnal man are the same.

The Apostle Paul taught and issued warnings in the New Testament for our day:
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts

2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

The Lord's prophets have always taught His people that to truly follow in His ways, our mortal lusts must be cast off and avoided.

Families who love the Gospel and strive to teach their children and raise a righteous posterity are not immune. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma issued his son Corianton a warning regarding his inappropriate behavior--as a father and a prophet:

Alma 39:9
Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things.

We may not all have the prophet for our dad, but we are all children of the same loving Father in Heaven and He has given each of us a kind, loving prophet to guide us. And we have had prophetic warnings given to us--to youth, to adults, to all the world:

“The sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World”).

"Physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred. It is ordained of God for the creation of children and for the expression of love between husband and wife. God has commanded that sexual intimacy be reserved for marriage.

"When you obey God’s commandment to be sexually pure, you prepare yourself to make and keep sacred covenants in the temple. You prepare yourself to build a strong marriage and to bring children into the world as part of a loving family. You protect yourself from the emotional damage that always comes from sharing physical intimacies with someone outside of marriage."

President Hinckley warned us many times to specifically avoid pornography like the plague it truly is.

“You live in a world of terrible temptations. Pornography, with its sleazy filth, sweeps over the earth like a horrible, engulfing tide. It is poison. Do not watch it or read it. It will destroy you if you do. It will take from you your self-respect. It will rob you of a sense of the beauties of life. It will tear you down and pull you into a slough of evil thoughts and possibly of evil actions. Stay away from it. Shun it as you would a foul disease, for it is just as deadly. Be virtuous in thought and in deed. God has planted in you, for a purpose, a divine urge which may be easily subverted to evil and destructive ends. When you are young, do not get involved in steady dating. When you reach an age where you think of marriage, then is the time to become so involved. But you boys who are in high school don’t need this, and neither do the girls” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1997, 71–72; or Ensign, Nov. 1997, 51).

"Satan sometimes tempts us through our emotions. He knows when we are lonely, confused, or depressed. He chooses this time of weakness to tempt us to break the law of chastity. Our Heavenly Father can give us the strength to pass through these trials unharmed."

About two years ago, the Young Women's organization was blessed with a new value to add to our arsenal of righteousness in battling the rising tide of immorality and irreverence in the world. That new value was VIRTUE. Throughout the years since, we have learned, along with our Young Women, that VIRTUE denotes strength and power. We understand that real strength and power come from living a life free of sexual transgression. Strength and power come as we are worthy to have the Holy Ghost as our companion and as we are worthy to receive the blessings in the temple. We also know that VITRTUE is not gender specific. As covenant people, we must be virtuous. There is no other way.

Ultimately the only real key to avoiding the heartache and sorrow that surely follow any lustful behavior is our own OBEDIENCE. In the recent June Ensign, Elder Bednar's shared his insight in a powerful fireside address. The last section he speaks of and to the "Rising Generation".

"In October of 1997, Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited Brigham Young University–Idaho to speak in a devotional. During the day he was on the campus, we talked together about a variety of gospel topics in general and about the youth of the Church in particular. I remember Elder Maxwell making a statement that greatly impressed me. He said, “The youth of this generation have a greater capacity for obedience than any previous generation.”

"He then indicated that his statement was based upon a truth taught by President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901), First Counselor in the First Presidency: “God has reserved spirits for this dispensation who have the courage and determination to face the world, and all the powers of the evil one, visible and invisible, to proclaim the gospel and maintain the truth and establish and build up the Zion of our God fearless of all consequences. He has sent these spirits in this generation to lay the foundation of Zion never more to be overthrown, and to raise up a seed that will be righteous, and that will honor God, and honor Him supremely, and be obedient to Him under all circumstances.”

"Parents and Church leaders frequently emphasize that the young men and young women of this generation have been reserved for this season in the history of the world and are some of the most valiant of Heavenly Father’s children. Indeed, such statements are true. But I often have wondered if young people hear this description so often that it becomes overused and trite—and that its importance and deep implications may be overlooked. We know that “unto whom much is given much is required” (D&C 82:3). And the teachings of President Cannon and Elder Maxwell help us to understand more fully what is required of us today. You and I are to be valiant and “obedient to Him under all circumstances.” Thus, obedience is the principal weapon upon which the rising generation must rely in the latter-day battle between good and evil."

When we obey the Father's commandments, we are given promised blessings to match our obedience. Many years after Christ's appearance to the Nephite people, they had seen the blessings that come from obedience and Nephi recorded:

4 Nephi 1:16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

In his conference address, Elder Holland gave several examples of ways to guard against temptation, thus allowing us to choose obedience and the way of happiness.

Obedience to the commandments of God and the words of prophets, especially our living prophets, who speak for our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, is a sure path to follow. They have offered us help in doing Their will, the Spirit to prompt us to do what is right, provided an atonement and a way back to them when we fall, and even given us loving bishops and priesthood leaders who will guide us back when we step away from the path. No lustful misstep is too far off that path that reparations cannot be made. But learning to avoid them, and obey the commandments initially readies us to miss those natural consequences of pain, sorrow, and remorse that come from giving in to the world's lustful temptations.

Elder Bednar concluded with this:
"Obedience opens the door to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. And the spiritual gifts and abilities activated by the power of the Holy Ghost enable us to avoid deception—and to see, to feel, to know, to understand, and to remember things as they really are. You and I have been endowed with a greater capacity for obedience precisely for these reasons. Moroni declared:

“Hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.

“Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God” (Mormon 9:27–28).

"As we heed that inspired counsel, we can and will be blessed to recognize and repel the attacks of the adversary—today and in the days that lie ahead. We can and will fulfill our foreordained responsibilities and contribute to the work of the Lord in all the world."

My dear brothers and sisters, we are His children in the last days. We all were reserved to come at this time, with the challenges of earth life today. We have the necessary strength, power and virtue as we choose to live in accordance with His laws. We have prophets and apostles who diligently teach us those things we need to know. Our job is to listen and obey.