Teens & Seminary

I am an avid reader. When left uninterrupted I can consume a 500+ page book in less than a day. Of course that’s when I’m reading for entertainment. When it comes to reading for knowledge, the process is considerably slower. This doesn’t stop me from reading for knowledge, however, as I’m passionate when it comes to learning new things. Whether it has to do with recent discoveries about allergy elimination, the latest research in where the Book of Mormon (another Testament of Jesus Christ) may have taken place, or what colors help me look my best, I try to find as many books or articles as I can lay my hands on.

Needless to say, the written word is invaluable to me, as well as millions of others out there in the world. We are not the only ones who treasure a written record.

From the time of Adam and Eve a record has been kept, according to the laws and dictates of the Lord. Many men over the years have been commanded to keep a record. Why?

There are two distinct stories in the Book of Mormon that work to explain just one of the reasons.

At the time of the prophet Jeremiah, a righteous man by the name of Lehi was prompted to take his family out of the land of Jerusalem and journey to a place where the Lord would lead them. After traveling for a few days Lehi was instructed to have his four grown sons return to Jerusalem to retrieve something they would need: the Brass Plates. These plates were the most current record available of the Lord’s Church (think Genesis and go on from there).

This commandment was not to be taken lightly. Going back to Jerusalem was perilous enough, as Lehi had made a lot of enemies by preaching to them of their wickedness and the need to repent. Add to that the man who held the plates and you had a dangerous mixture. This man was called Laban. He was greedy and unscrupulous, and cared more for the wealth and prestige the plates accorded him than the words written upon them. It was only with his death that the plates were retrieved.

Why did the Lord ask Lehi to risk his four sons for what may seem like a trivial thing? We are given the answer by Nephi, one of those sons.

“And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers; And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present time” (1 Nephi 3:19-20).

Neither Lehi nor his family knew the Lord had a great journey for them, one that would require a large boat to take them across the ocean to a “promised land” (1 Nephi 2:20). Because they were being taken away from their native land, they needed the pure and undefiled language of the Lord and His prophets.

In stark contrast we have an accounting of a group of people called the Mulekites. At the time Zedekiah, king of Judah, was taken captive into Babylon, a group was guided to the promised land as well, only they had no written record of the Lord’s Church and laws. What sort of a difference could this have made?

“They had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator” (Omni 1:17).

Eventually the paths of these two people crossed. Do you know what the Mulekites did when they discovered the Nephites (righteous descendants of Lehi) had the brass plates? They rejoiced! They were open to being taught the language of the Nephites in an effort to begin living righteously. As this happened the Mulekites found themselves being blessed abundantly, and living in peace.

The written word is precious beyond measure, but the record we have beginning in Genesis on down through the present day is the greatest treasure in this world. The New Testament of the Bible fulfills the laws set up in the Old Testament. The Book of Mormon, a record of those brought by the Lord here to the Americas, complements what is written in the Holy Bible.

We must count ourselves blessed to have a record of the Lord’s ways: of why they work and what happens when we turn away from them. It is vitally important to study the scriptures so that we might learn from the experiences of those who have come before us in the hopes that we can avoid the same danger.

“They did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them” (Alma 57:21).

There are few sights in this world that can compare to a righteous mother humbly teaching her children in the ways of the Lord. There are few better testimonies to the love a child has for his mother than to continue in those ways even as he grows older.

My absolute favorite story involving mothers occurs in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. The remarkable women are not mentioned by name, but rather through the truths spoken and actions displayed by their sons.

Long ago a man named Helaman lived on the American continent. He was a good, noble, and righteous man who stood for much of what our forefathers fought to maintain: the desire to live free, to worship as they felt right, and to protect their families and homes. During Helaman’s time there were many wars between his people, the Nephites, and those who violently opposed the Lord’s Church, the Lamanites.

Helaman led a group of 2,000 young men, who were in their teens, to battle against the Lamanites. Why did he lead such young people into war? The parents of these young men had made a covenant with the Lord never to pick up their weapons of war again, even if it meant they would die. When their lives were placed in danger, many of them thought to break the covenant, especially as so many of their fellow Nephites – who fought to protect them – were being killed (Alma 53:11).

That’s when these 2,000 young men, or Stripling Warriors as we in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) call them, stepped up and said they would fight in place of their fathers and brothers who had previously entered the covenant.

They fought many times, these young men, for what they believed what was right. Helaman became like a father to them, and they referred to him as such. He wrote to a fellow captain about these boys of his, in which the reason behind their incredible faith is given.

“And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites. For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.

“Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it” (Alma 56:45-48, emphasis added).

I do not doubt these mothers feared as they watched their sons go to war, not knowing what might happen to them, yet having such great faith that whatever the outcome it would be as the Lord desired. How great must have been their joy to see every single one of their young men return home.

For those who have a mother such as this, one who has taught you over the years in the ways of the Lord, rejoice. Live your lives as a testament to the good woman she is. If you do not have such a mother, I still say rejoice. You cannot know what has happened in her own growing up years to have shaped the person she is now. Instead of mourning for what might have been, take a moment to think of even one good thing she has done in your behalf. Even if there is only one little memory, take hold and never let it go. I then invite you to think of all the other mothers in your life: grandmothers, aunts, teachers, church leaders, and any other woman who has been a good influence.

I can only hope, as so many other mothers out there will echo, that my children will remember my own faith as I strive to teach them what is right. I pray they will be faithful and strong as I send them out to battle the evils in the world today. One of the greatest things I can ever hope to hear my children say of me is that they knew of my faith, and that I never doubted.

Have you noticed gas prices have gone up lately? How about food? Odds are unless you pay for these necessities yourself you may only have heard general grumbling from the adult population.

The truth is more and more people are struggling to make ends meet, even with two full-time jobs and cutting back here and there. You may be asking, “What can I do about it?” I’m here to tell you it’s time to start a food storage.

We have a fantastic section here on the blog all about home storage and preparedness, and I highly recommend you take some time to go through it. I wanted to stop and talk today about why it’s important for you, as teens, to take an active role in starting a food storage.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church) we have been encouraged for years by leaders to begin storing food, water, and other necessities.

“We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings” (“All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage,” All is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 2007).

This call to prepare for hard times goes out to more than just the members of the Latter-day Saint Church. This call can and should be heard by all. If you read this, and do not have any sort of food storage built up in your home, now is the time to start.

Begin by talking with your parent(s) about making little changes. Think about your family’s favorite foods. The first three things that come to mind in my own family are spaghetti, mandarin oranges, and macaroni salad. So once a month I might buy an extra can of oranges, an extra bag of noodles, or add one more jar of mayo to my shopping list. When I get home, the extra food item will be put away for storage.

The same can be said for other necessities: toilet paper, over-the-counter medicine, toothpaste, shampoo, dish soap, etc. If you don’t have a lot of room to store these extras, get creative. I have a bin of things on the floor of my closet. One of the shelves in my pantry is dedicated to food. I’ve crammed little things here and there. Those items I may not need for a long time or are non-perishable, like soap, can be stuck in high-up cupboards or any nook or cranny.

Another thing to discuss is a savings plan. I’m not talking a lot. Even just five or ten dollars a paycheck or a month can add up over time. Having that savings can prove to be a lifesaver in times of financial stress or in an emergency.

The biggest thing to remember is not to put yourself in debt putting a food storage together.

“We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes. . . . With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve” (“All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage,” All is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 2007).

Start small. Work on building up a week’s worth of food storage. If you’re not sure just how much your family goes through in a week, keep a written record of everything you go through. You can work well off of that one list, adjusting for other foods you enjoy. When you’ve managed to build up a week’s worth of storage, begin on week two.

Even if all you have room and money for is one month of home storage, you will be remarkably prepared when hard times hit. . .like now. Take a chance. Talk to your parent(s) about creating a home storage.

For more tips go to Provident Living

We should be spending every day of our lives in various efforts to make it happen. It can be through loving our neighbor, showing kindness to those who have wronged us, or serving those we come in contact with. Our words, thoughts and deeds are supposed to reflect one particular thing.

We are all trying to be more like Jesus.

It sounds simple enough, yet countless numbers have spent their entire lives in an effort to do just that, and they all fall short. Of course this doesn’t mean we should stop trying. Becoming more like Jesus is a lifelong process.

Perhaps those who give up too soon do so because they don’t really understand Christ. Though many of us have read the accounts of His life in the New Testament as well as the Book of Mormon (another testament of Christ), how many have studied His life thoroughly? How many understand the motivation behind His acts? How many comprehend the enormous pressure being the Savior of the world constantly placed upon Him?

Many argue His abilities to resist temptation far surpassed ours because He was part God. I’d like to add how tremendously difficult His temptations were as compared to ours. I’d also like to mention that He was perfect because, as Howard W. Hunter, a former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church), stated:

“He wanted to be. It is important to remember that Jesus was capable of sinning, that He could have succumbed, that the plan of life and salvation could have been foiled, but that He remained true. . .He was perfect and sinless, not because he had to be, but rather because he clearly and determinedly wanted to be. As the Doctrine and Covenants records, ‘He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.’ (D&C 20:22)”

Shortly after His baptism Christ felt compelled to take himself into seclusion in order to commune with the Father. In order to become more in tune with His spiritual self, Christ fasted. It wasn’t for two meals, or even twenty-four hours. He fasted for a full forty days. During this time He was being fed spiritually, so much so He barely regarded His own physical needs.

The time of such close communion with the Father eventually came to an end. As Christ pulled away it would be obvious His physical needs would become apparent. Elder James E. Talmage, a former apostle of the Latter-day Saint Church, relates:

“Throughout the period of retirement, he ate not, but chose to fast, that His mortal body might the more completely be subjected to His divine spirit. Then, when He was hungry and physically weak, the tempter came with the. . .suggestion that He use His extraordinary powers to provide food. Satan had chosen the most [advantageous] time for his evil purpose. What will mortals not do to what lengths have men not gone, to [dull] the pangs of hunger?” (Talmage, James E., “Jesus the Christ,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981, p.128).

At this time Christ was tempted, not once but three different times. We know the first time was at this point, when Satan tried to get Christ to use the power of the priesthood to create food for himself. “If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread” (Luke 4:3). Christ could have done it, but refused.

Again Satan tried to tempt Christ, this time citing scripture. At the time Christ stood at the top of the temple. Satan knew it was prophesied that God would protect His son, and encouraged Christ to jump off the temple to prove Himself the Son of God. With this display of power truly many of the Jews would believe Him to be something more than mere mortal. Talmage states: “It would have been a sign and a wonder indeed, the fame of which would have spread as a fire in the dry grass; and all Jewry would have been aflame with excitement and interest in the Christ” (Ibid, p.131). Yet, as before, Jesus refused.

In another temptation Satan tried a new tactic. He showed Christ the riches of the world and said, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). To this Jesus replied, “Get thee hence, Satan” (Matthew 4:10). Satan did leave, for a season.

This was not the end, nor the beginning, of the temptations of Christ. In fact He was tempted in all points just as all of us are, though with one significant difference. While we must always submit to the power of God, Christ had the power within himself to make happen whatever He desired. Therein lies the truest danger in all His temptations. Yet time and again He chose not to sin.

It is important to remember that without temptations, there is no real test. Christ understands what it’s like to be tempted. Through His resolute example we are given hope that we, too, can say to Satan and his followers, “Get thee hence.”

I find it extraordinary when God takes two people, who might not have met otherwise, and places them together.

My husband forgot his wallet one morning. This event alone has never happened before, so already the day seemed quite unusual. The kids and I headed downtown to deliver the wallet. Around the outskirts of Temple Square, a block that holds one of the temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormons), one can see several panhandlers all looking for a monetary handout. It’s been years since I’ve carried any cash with me, and so I usually just try to greet them with a smile.

One particular woman approached me and asked for money. . . change. . . anything I might have to spare. I hated to tell her I honestly didn't have anything. Her face absolutely crumpled. At that moment I stopped. I couldn’t help myself. I reached out and took her in my arms. She was desperately hoping to find enough money to take her kids somewhere to sleep that night. I expressed my wish to help, but that I simply didn't carry money with me. It was hard to walk away, even with her reassurances that everything was fine.

There are ATM's in the building where my husband works, and I took out some money. I simply couldn't get her out of my head. We visited with Daddy for a few minutes and headed back out to the car. I prayed I would see her on the way. Sure enough, she was right where we'd left her. As I handed her the money, what little we could afford, I couldn't resist and once again gave her a hug. She began to cry, and then said something I don't think I'll ever forget.

"Thank you," she said. "Most of all thank you for seeing me. Most people won't even look."

I asked for her name, wondering when the last time someone had used it in love. Samantha. Isn't that beautiful. I told Samantha I'm so glad I got to meet her today, and I am. I think God put the two of us together that day for a reason.

This post is by no means encouraging you to go around finding those who are homeless and giving them money. Instead I'd ask you to take a moment to think about all the youth who have struck out in horrible ways in recent years, most often because of how they have been treated by those around them. How many of those teens had the same hopeless, helpless attitude? How many felt as though it had been so long since someone really looked at them, asked their name, and spoke it in love?

We may not be able to control the actions of those around us, but we can control ourselves. Because I stopped and listened to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that day, I will never be able to hear the name Samantha without thinking of a mother just trying her best in horrible circumstances to take care of her family. It's hard to say what little influence I might have had on her, but she is now imprinted upon my heart. I am the one who came away blessed.

Take a moment and really look at those around you, and ask the Lord to guide you to someone who just needs to be seen today.

This time of year always comes with mixed emotions for me. I love that Spring begins to win out over Winter. I don’t love the thoughts in the back of my mind that another year is almost in full bloom, and my kids are getting so much older.

I love that flowers begin to bud, purple and yellow crocuses pop out of the ground, and tulips are well on their way to blooming. I don’t love that birds think it’s okay to nest in the eaves of our house and lay droppings all over the place. Ewww.

I love that with the coming of Spring we are reminded of the Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the peace and knowledge we are blessed with because of it. I don’t love that I had to lose a son for Easter time to become so much more meaningful to me. I don’t love it, but I am grateful for it.

During the month of March several years ago my husband and I watched as our little boy, then barely over an hour old, drew his last breath. He’d been born with some major defects within his body, and he was unable to sustain life. Before he died my husband, my father, and my older brother all stood around me as I held this precious baby. These three worthy men of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed the Mormon Church, laid their hands on his head and gave him a priesthood blessing.

Only a few weeks later I sat in church listening to fellow members bear their testimony about what the Atonement means to them. It struck me all of a sudden of how much more I appreciated the sacrifice our Lord made. I had lost family members and friends before, but there’s something different about losing a child. I dearly hope none of you ever have to experience it.

Over the next several posts I hope to share with you a little of what I’ve come to learn about the Atonement and the Resurrection. I know there are others who could cover the subject so much more thoroughly than I can hope. I know there are others who could recite scripture and prophetic proclamations with precision I could never accomplish at this time.

I also know that Heavenly Father gives us certain tasks, trials, tests so that we can learn, grow, and become closer to Him and His ways. I know He wishes for us to share these experiences for the benefit of others. I know my son was given to me for a reason, and I really have learned so much since then. The experience of losing my son at times felt like too much to bear, and yet I have been so blessed in my life because of it.

Two of my favorite scripture verses that really bring this home come from the Book of Mormon, another testament of Christ.

“For I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 36:3).

"I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).

I have not witnessed the Atonement. I was not there when Christ was crucified and rose again. But because of what I have experienced with my son, I have such great faith that both things occurred.

Granted I was older when all this happened. This does not mean the Atonement and Resurrection cannot mean just as much to you as teens. If you wish to gain a closer relationship with the Lord, begin by studying His words and His life. Even if it’s just by reading a few words of testimony this blogger has to give.

I do have a testimony. I know that the Lord sacrificed Himself so that we might be forgiven of our sins. I know that not only did He endure the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane once, but went back twice more knowing full well the pain He would continue to endure. I know that after this excruciating experience He willingly allowed Himself to be taken, beaten, and crucified for us. I also know that three days later He rose, triumphant.

I do not love that He had to go through all of that, but I am grateful He did.

There was a time we all stood in the pre-mortal world and chose to follow God’s plan. Part of that plan included the opportunity to create families here on earth. Each spirit child had a hope to be born into a family that included a loving father and mother who would teach them in the ways of God.

It is through the sacred power of procreation that these families are made. When done in proper order, a man and a woman are bound together through marriage before bringing a child into the world.

Satan has another agenda. Over many years of whispering the wrong ideas into the right ears, he has convinced countless numbers of people that the sacredness of sexual relations should be explored outside the bonds of marriage. More recently he has sought to convince the youth as early as fourteen and younger, that remaining virtuous is old-fashioned, outdated, and behind the times.

He’s worked hard in recent years to convince the youth to give up that which is most sacred. His tactics are clever and cunning. One of his strongest, other than in an effort to obtain pleasure, is a basic desire to be loved.

I once had a young woman come to me as I held one of my babies in my arms and say, “Sometimes I think about having a baby just so someone will love me.” She felt so alone, so unloved, so unimportant that she thought of giving up that which is sacred in our Father’s eyes just so she could have someone in her life who might give her all that she was missing.

This is not Heavenly Father’s plan for us. “For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.” (Jacob 2:28) What about the guys? Well, if our girls are remaining chaste, it stands true that the young men are doing so as well.

You are all coming to an age where it is necessary to think on eternal things in an effort to deal with the issues confronting you in the here and now.

Elder Boyd K. Packer wrote:

“Someday you will hold a little boy or a little girl in your arms and know that two of you have acted in partnership with our Heavenly Father in the creation of life. Because the youngster belongs to you, you may then come to love someone more than you love yourself.

“This experience can come, insofar as I know, only through having children of your own or perhaps through fostering children born of another and yet drawn close into family covenants.”

My young woman had no idea how hard it is to have a child. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t give up any one of my kids for anything in this world, but it’s not a job for those who aren’t ready for it. You must be prepared to put every single one of your own needs aside in an effort to provide for a life, which requires all you have to give them. They can be such a joy. They can also take everything you’ve got. I cannot imagine trying to make parenthood work without my husband by my side.

I tried to help this young woman see no spirit child looking down on his or her parent would wish to be brought into this world in such a way. Each of these precious spirits deserves the very best we can provide. If we ourselves don’t come from the happiest of households, we should strive to give our children what we did not have ourselves: a mother and father, married in the temple, who love them.

“A world full of trials and fears and disappointments can be changed into a kingdom of hope and joy and happiness. Each time a child is born, the world somehow is renewed in innocence" quotes Elder Packer.

I love that phrase, “renewed in innocence.” Each child who comes into this earth is innocent. They should not have to become accountable for the mistakes we make, including coming into this life without a mother and father who cared enough to have been married first.

Think on the eternal perspective. Think of those future boys and girls who Heavenly Father will place in your care. Thinking on this can work to help you in this life, as well as the next.

Elder Packer cautions:

“Your actual happiness is at stake. Eternal family life, now only in your anticipation and dreams, can be achieved because our Heavenly Father has bestowed this choicest gift of all upon you – this power of creation. It is the very key to happiness. Hold this gift as sacred and pure. Use it only as the Lord directed.”

There is a line, unseen but nonetheless there, that keeps us safe. Crossing this line affects not only our physical well-being but our emotional and spiritual well-being too.

I’m talking about the Morality Line.

I’ve taught many lessons over the years to reluctant youth about the dangers of crossing this line, as well as the blessings when we choose not to. In an effort to help illustrate this point, I want to tell you about a friend of mine. We’ll call her Chrissie.

Chrissie was a beautiful young woman. Not a member of the LDS (Mormon) Church, she had never been taught that staying chaste would bring far more happiness than giving in to sexual immorality. Day after day, week after week, she felt pressured to give in to her boyfriend’s persistent declarations that if she loved him, she’d do this one little thing.

The day finally came when she said yes. Chrissie related to me years later there was no love in the act, only lust. It wasn’t too long after he had gotten his way that she was dumped by this man who supposedly loved her.

Since that time she joined the LDS Church, and has gotten married in the temple to a man who sincerely knows what it means to love a woman. Though her sin was washed from her soul when she got baptized, the memory of what happened to her all those years ago has never left.

It is not only the young women who need to watch themselves. One of the greatest examples I can think of when it comes to a moral young man is one named Joseph. Even though he had been sold by his very own brothers to the Ishmaelites, who then sold him to a man named Potiphar.

Because of Joseph’s willingness to serve with all his heart, he became a favorite of Potiphar’s. After a while Potiphar’s wife took notice of Joseph, and encouraged him to come and lie with her. Take note of Joseph’s response: “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

First and foremost in Joseph’s mind was his Lord. How many of us can say the same? Joseph was willing to go to jail in the effort keep from crossing the line between morality and immorality. Can we say the same?

My friend Chrissie cannot understand why young men and young women, who have been taught the path to true happiness, give in when it comes to sexual impurity. She knows the feelings of worthlessness, of constantly feeling dirty, that is brought with it. She has imparted to others her first-hand knowledge that if you truly do love someone, you will help them keep their chastity in place, not take it away.

Like Joseph, we need to treasure what the Lord thinks about us far above what any mortal thinks, for he loves us far more than they ever could.

In this day and age we are frequently tempted to stray away from the path of chastity and virtue, and the temptations are focusing on younger generations.

Satan knows if he can get to you in your youth, odds are he’ll have you for life. He encourages you to seek after pleasures, not thinking about the after-effects of your choices. Yet the decision to act selfishly, to satisfy your own desires, can only bring unhappiness.

Elder Boyd K. Packer, leader in the Mormon church, has written:

“In former times [Satan] was too cunning to confront one with an open invitation to be immoral. But rather, sneakingly and quietly, he would tempt young and old alike to think loosely of these sacred powers of creation, to bring down to a vulgar or to a common level that which is sacred and beautiful.

“His tactics have changed now. He describes it only as an appetite to be satisfied. He teaches that there are no attendant responsibilities to the uses of this power. Pleasure, he will tell you, is its sole purpose. You grow up in a society where before you is the constant invitation to tamper with these sacred powers.”

Does this sound familiar? Many times we are confronted with the words, “If it feels good, do it.” Most especially in the media do we see the idea of chastity being treated loosely, not to mention being made to look vulgar and common. Numerous people all over the world believe this idea. They may not come to realize, until it’s too late, that pleasure only lasts a moment. It is joy that can last forever, but only if we hearken to the councils of the Lord and his leaders.

Elder Packer continues:

“I want to counsel you and I want you to remember these words. Do not let anyone at all touch or handle your body, not anyone! Those who tell you otherwise proselyte you to share their guilt. We teach you to maintain your innocence.”

Have you ever heard the term, “Misery loves company”? Well, it’s true. And those who have acted too quickly in giving up their chastity are miserable, no matter how much they scream and yell that they aren’t. They want you down on their level, to be as miserable as they have become. In this effort they’ll say just about anything to entice you, guilt you, or badger you into joining them. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard someone say they regret not sleeping with more people before leaving high school. If anything, they have all wished to go back and undo this sin.

Elder Packer warns:

“I must tell you soberly and seriously that God has declared in unmistakable language that misery and sorrow will follow the violation of the laws of chastity. ‘Wickedness never was happiness’ (Alma 41:10). These laws were set up to guide all of His children in the use of this gift.

“He does not have to be spiteful or vengeful in order that punishment will come from the breaking of the moral code. The laws are established of themselves.

“Crowning glory awaits you if you live worthily. The loss of the crown may well be punishment enough. Often, very often, we are punished as much by our sins as we are for them.”

Even if it takes a few years, your choices will come back to haunt you. Regret inevitably sets in. I am happy to report all is not lost. The good news for those who have strayed from the path of morality is this: there is hope. If you have given in to immorality, and have a sincere desire to wipe the slate clean, you have the gift of repentance.

For those of you outside of the LDS Church, baptism washes away every previous sin, and you can stand clean before the Lord. For those of you within this church, the opportunity to stand clean is also given. Go to your bishop. He is there to help guide you through these steps. I have witnessed for myself what miracles can be fashioned by following these steps. It is not easy to come back to a righteous way of living, but I solemnly promise you it is so worth it.

There is joy to be found in remaining chaste. This joy will give you much more satisfaction than any momentary pleasure. You may be mocked for your choice to remain clean, but you will never regret that choice. I can testify of this.

It’s a tricky subject at any age. No one really wants to talk about it, yet the importance of an open and honest discussion is becoming vital.

Over the next few posts I’m going to tackle the topic of the sacred power of procreation, the blessings of keeping chaste, and the effects of choosing the wrong path.

Believe it or not this all starts in our pre-mortal life. We were given a choice: choose Lucifer’s plan and be forced back to heaven, or choose Heavenly Father’s plan and be given the opportunity to choose our own path. A major part of helping this plan work would be the formation of families, and the power to help those family lines continue.

This power is called procreation – the creation of life. Each one of our bodies has been blessed with this power. It is both sacred and critical to the continuing of Heavenly Father’s plan. If the functioning, family unit were ever damaged, so too would the plan be impaired.

Satan knew this. He was there when the original plan was presented. When banished from Heavenly Father’s presence, Satan and his followers were denied the opportunity to ever have a body, and he became dangerously jealous. He began to devise various plans of his own to destroy all that Heavenly Father wanted for us.

He’s had thousands of years to experiment. It certainly hasn’t been the first time he’s attacked the family unit. Over time he’s managed to refine his efforts. As the world has changed, so has he. Satan’s tactics to undermine everything Heavenly Father has put together will remain devious.

Today, it all starts with a kiss.

I admit to being a romantic at heart. A good love story is right up my alley. Whether in a movie, a television show, or a book, I’m all for watching the guy get the girl. Or vice versa. The thing is, it used to take some of my favorite T.V. couples years to get to the first kiss.

Fast forward to today. What used to be thought of as a sweet and tender moment to be cherished is now something given away without a thought. Satan has led us to believe one kiss won’t hurt. Give it away to anyone. The younger you are, the better. That way you can kiss as many people as possible.

Sound familiar?

In less than twenty years it’s frightening to see just how far Satan has convinced the world to “push the limits.” Shows and movies for and about the youth are geared towards convincing them there are no consequences for dipping into those waters. At least, there is no consequence too serious.

Therefore I am here to tell you, cherish that first kiss. It is something special. Guys and girls, do not give it away carelessly. Do not give in to the pressure of a first kiss merely out of curiosity, or because everyone else is doing it. A first kiss can never be taken back. Once it’s gone there is no going back, and more often than not it’s the first step on a road you’ve been warned not to travel.

Cherish that first kiss. It’s the only one you have.

We’ve discussed why we should keep the Sabbath Day holy. For those of us who aren’t the quickest to think of ways to keep it holy, I’m here to help.

When you go to church I challenge you to take a look at the members, especially those in your peer group. Is someone missing? This is especially easier to see once you break up into smaller classes. If you find a friend or classmate didn’t make it to church that day, do something about it. Fewer things can make a person feel more loved than to have someone notice when they aren’t around. Give this classmate a call to see if everything’s okay. It could be he or she is sick, or perhaps they were out of town. Either way that simple act will do much good.

Go visiting. Whether it’s someone who’s ailing in your neighborhood or heading out to check up on family members, visiting those who you normally don’t get to see during the week is always a good idea. Just remember to do it with the right attitude.

Spend some time with the scriptures. What better way to bring in the Spirit and put you in the correct mindset than by sitting down and reading out of the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, or Pearl of Great Price? Pick out a few of your favorite stories and see if you can pick up anything new from them. Do you have a particular subject you’re interested in? Look it up in the index, Bible dictionary or topical guide and study it one scripture at a time.

Read from other good books. The LDS genre is growing, and there are more and more books out there created with the values we hold dear. This is a great time to read from LDS Church magazines as well. For youth it’s the "New Era".

If you prefer the Internet try going to www.MormonWiki.com or www.lds.org. Of course, we'd love for you to keep www.LDSBlogs.com near the top of your list as well.

Think about the music you listen to. Instead of turning up the latest and greatest of whichever type you prefer, put together a selection of sacred music instead. Some of my favorites include the likes of: Michael McLean, who’s been around for many years and has quite a large range to select from; Jericho Road has a hipper feel to it, and is quite popular with the youth. For those of you who love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (and I’ll admit I’m not their biggest fan, but they do have particular songs I love to hear them sing) they have numerous cd’s out full of sacred songs. If you like the piano look for Jon Schmidt’s cd 'Hymns'. I’d also recommend a newer artist for those who love to listen to the cello. His name is Steve Nelson, and his cd is called Sacred Cello. The point is to find something appropriate to bringing in the Spirit of the Sabbath.

One thing I’ve started doing the last few weeks is praying for inspiration when it comes to writing a note to someone. Whether I want to say "thanks" or "I’m thinking of you", a card or note sent through the mail is a wonderful surprise for anyone to receive and a great way to keep yourself in the spirit of the day.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m a T.V. and movie junkie. Not that I spend hours upon hours of time watching it, but I do have certain shows that I prefer. When it comes to watching television on Sunday, I get rather strict. Our family will watch Church oriented movies: either those put out by the Mormon Church, some of the growing number of movies put out by members of the Church, or those put out by Feature Films for Families. Just keep the notion of the day in mind. If it doesn’t leave you feeling uplifted, it probably wasn’t a good idea.

There are so many other things we can do in an effort to help keep the Sabbath Day holy. Keep in mind it is a day designed to help take us out of the pressures of the world and reset our spiritual balance.

For most everyone in this very large world Commandment number eight doesn’t seem hold quite the same meaning as it did many years ago. In Exodus 20:8 we read, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Sounds simple enough, right? The problem with the idea of keeping the Sabbath Day holy is it all depends on how each individual person defines one word – holy.

One of my favorite descriptions lies in Websters Collegiate Dictionary, specifically definition #3: ‘devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity.’ Why do I love this so much? Because it describes beautifully the way we should treat the Sabbath Day.

Becoming devoted to the deity is easier than you might think. One of the best and most fulfilling ways is to go to church. For those of us in the LDS Church this contains three meetings. First is Sacrament Meeting where we partake of the sacrament, and are then taught by leaders and members of the congregation. We also go to Sunday School for those twelve and older where we can learn more of the scriptures, and Primary for those eleven and under. The last hour is for personalized lessons to help us make good decisions in our lives. For the men this is called Priesthood Meeting, for the women Relief Society. The youth 12-18 go to Young Men’s or Young Women’s.

Makes for a good three hours of worship, don’t you think? I certainly do, but our Sunday worship shouldn’t stop there. Many of our youth and leaders have meetings (think Bishop’s Youth Council, or taking the sacrament to the home-bound), which can take up another good portion of the day.

What about all those other hours between the time we wake up and the time we go back to bed? When you look at the second part of our definition, we have an answer: devote our time to the work of the deity.

What did Christ spend most of his adult life doing? Serving others. Healing. Teaching.

One of the most powerful lessons on how to keep the Sabbath Day holy is taught by Christ himself. I would invite you to look up Luke chapter 12 and read the full account. The Pharisees, who really didn’t like Jesus, decided to try and trick him. Jesus had just entered into a synagogue where the Pharisees followed. Within this synagogue lay a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees thought to lay a trap for Christ and challenged him in verse 10 saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?”

I’m certain Christ knew exactly what these men were doing, and asked his own question in verse 11-12. “What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.”

To show he meant what he said, Christ healed the injured man’s hand. He then left the synagogue and spent the rest of the Sabbath Day working miracles.

I realize the opportunity for us to work miracles on Sundays isn’t within the realms of reality. We can, however, find other means of keeping this most sacred day separate and infinitely more special from all others.