Sunday, December 27, 2015

Overcoming Temptation

Source


Q What is sin? What effects do our sins have on us?

1. "James said, “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). John described sin as “all unrighteousness” (1 John 5:17) and “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4)" (Gospel Principles).

Sin robs us of blessings and damages our relationship with God and distorts our view of Him, ourselves, and the world around us. Sin can bring spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical pain to ourselves and others around us.

2. "As the Apostle Paul prophesied, the last days are “perilous times” (2 Timothy 3:1). The influence of the adversary is widespread and seductive. But you can defeat Satan and overcome his temptations. Heavenly Father has given you the gift of agency—the power to choose good over evil. You can “humble [yourself] before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that [you] may not be tempted above that which [you] can bear” (Alma 13:28). As you willingly obey the commandments, your Heavenly Father will strengthen you to withstand temptation" (True to the Faith).

We can overcome temptation as we become more spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy:

Spiritual Health
Center your life on the Savior
3. “Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5:12).

"True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ" (Richard G. Scott, November 2006 General Conference).

Q What are things we can do to center our lives on Jesus Christ?




Conditional Blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Forgiveness, salvation, exaltation, eternal families, hope, overcome weaknesses, godly character/divine attributes, self control, guidance, comfort, joy, peace, strength, healing, etc.

To receive the conditional blessings of the atonement, we must live the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
          ·         Faith- belief in, trust in, and commitment to obey Christ
          ·         Repent- submit will to Christ and change behavior to follow Him; seek forgiveness and a change of heart
          ·         Covenants- make/keep promises by priesthood authority to follow the example of Jesus Christ, such as baptism.
          ·         Holy Ghost- receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, invite and follow His guidance
          ·         Endure to the end- consistently grow our faith, repent, keep our covenants, and receive the Holy Ghost

Q How does living the Gospel help us to overcome temptation? 

Pray for strength 
4. "When the resurrected Savior came to the Nephites, He taught the multitude: “Ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name” (3 Nephi 18:18–19). In the latter days He has given similar counsel: “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work” (D&C 10:5)" (True to the Faith).

Q How does humility help us overcome temptation (see Alma 13:28 above)?

5. "Our ability to withstand temptation is now grounded in our continual submission to the will of the Lord. We express our need for the power available to us through the Savior’s Atonement, and we begin to feel that power within us, fortifying us against the next temptation. We have learned to accept life on the Lord’s terms.... Submission to the Lord is hard doctrine. It requires us to rededicate ourselves to His will at the start of each day and sometimes every hour or even from moment to moment. As we are willing to do so, we find the grace, or enabling power, to do what we could not do for ourselves" (Addiction Recovery Program - A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing).

Study the scriptures daily 
6. "As you study gospel truths and apply them in your life, the Lord will bless you with power to withstand temptation. Nephi taught, “Whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction” (1 Nephi 15:24; see also Helaman 3:29–30)" (True to the Faith).

Q How have you seen daily prayer and scripture study help overcome temptation?

Fill your life with goodness
7. "You have so much good to choose from that you do not need to partake of evil. When you fill your life with goodness, you leave no room for anything else" (True to the Faith).

8. "And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of water which our father saw? And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water" (1 Ne 15:26-27).

Avoid tempting people, places and situations
9. "You cannot avoid temptation completely, but you can avoid places or situations where you are likely to be tempted. You can also avoid inappropriate material in magazines, books, television, movies, and music and on the Internet" (True to the Faith).

10. "Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot [cause thee to sin], cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.... And a man's hand is his friend, and his foot, also" (JST Matthew 18:8-9)

Q What is the difference between resisting and avoiding temptation? How can we choose to avoid instead of resist temptation?
Q Sin starts as a thought. How can we overcome sinful thoughts?

11. "Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thoughts can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don’t have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and then tell them where the silverware is kept! (You shouldn’t be serving tea anyway.) Throw the rascals out! Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful images and joyful memories; picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down. More than one man has been saved from sin or stupidity by remembering the face of his mother, his wife, or his child waiting somewhere for him at home.... Cultivate and be where the Spirit of the Lord is. Make sure that includes your own home or apartment, dictating the kind of art, music, and literature you keep there. Most people in trouble end up crying, “What was I thinking?” Well, whatever they were thinking, they weren’t thinking of Christ" (Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2010 General Conference).

Serve others, and Strive to influence them for good.
12. "Just before He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Savior prayed for His disciples: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 17:14–18). As a latter-day disciple of Jesus Christ, you can be in the world but “not of the world.” In addition to avoiding temptation yourself, you can influence others to live good and wholesome lives. You can set a righteous example, be a good friend, participate in community service, and, as appropriate, let your voice be heard in defense of moral values" (True to the Faith).

Q Selfishness is at the root of virtually all sins. How can we overcome our selfishness?
Q How can we be in the world but not of the world?

13. “We seldom realize the extent to which we are a product of the culture of our place and time…. All too often, we are like puppets on a string, as our culture determines what is ‘cool’.... How was it possible that the [Manhattan] temple could be so reverently silent when the hustle and bustle of the metropolis was just a few yards away? The answer was in the construction of the temple…. The inner walls of the temple were connected to the outer walls at only a very few junction points. That is how the temple (Zion) limited the effects of Babylon, or the world outside. There may be a lesson here for us. We can create the real Zion among us by limiting the extent to which Babylon will influence our lives” (David R. Stone, Ensign, May 2006).

Never hesitate in your decisions to withstand temptation 
14. "Strive to follow the example of the Savior, who “suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them” (D&C 20:22). When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the Lord never wavered. His answer was quick and firm: “Get thee behind me, Satan” (Luke 4:8). Through your righteous thoughts, words, and actions, you can answer the temptations of the adversary with the same conviction. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:7–8)" (True to the Faith).

Q What other practices have you seen help you to be spiritually healthy? (Fasting, Keep the Sabbath Day Holy).

Physical Health
Live the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89), Eat, sleep, and exercise appropriately

Mental and Emotional Health; the following weakens us to temptation and should be avoided or dealt with in constructive ways:
·         Being hungry, bored, lonely, angry, stressed, overwhelmed, burned out, or tired
·         Being dishonest, manipulative, obsessive, or controlling
·         Being negative, critical, judgmental, unforgiving, or resentful of ourselves or others
·         Being jealous, covetous, or lustful
·         Procrastination

Q How can gratitude help us to overcome temptation?
Q How can being merciful and forgiving of others and ourselves make us less vulnerable to temptation?

Turn to Christ When Tempted
15. "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:27).

Jesus said, "The Father... [hath] sent me to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (3 Nephi 20:26).

16. "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15).

17. "We finally abandoned the idea that we could become perfect by ourselves, and we accepted the truth that God desires us to conquer our weaknesses in this life by coming to Christ and being perfected in Him. We found that by His grace, He enabled us to deny ourselves of all ungodliness and to understand that salvation comes not by our own power but by His (see Moroni 10:32)" (Addiction Recovery Program - A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing).

"And were it not for the interposition of their all-wise Creator, and this because of their sincere repentance, they must unavoidably remain in bondage until now. But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him" (Mosiah 29:19-20).

Key talks about Overcoming Addiction can be found at

Key talks about Repentance can be found at

Key talks about The Atonement of Jesus Christ can be found at

Key talks about Grace can be found at

Key talks about Gratitude can be found at
  
Key talks about Humility can be found at

Please share your testimony of the principles covered in this lesson or share a favorite scripture or quote that wasn't included.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Tithes and Offerings

Source



The Law of Tithing
1. "Anciently, Abraham and Jacob obeyed the commandment to pay a tithe of one-tenth of their increase (see Hebrews 7:1–10; Genesis 14:19–20; 28:20–22). In modern times the Prophet Joseph Smith prayed, “O Lord, show unto thy servants how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a tithing” (D&C 119, section introduction). The Lord answered: “This shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people. And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever” (D&C 119:3–4). The First Presidency has explained that “one-tenth of all their interest annually” refers to our income (see First Presidency letter, Mar. 19, 1970)" (Gospel Principles, Tithing).

2. "In the Lord’s commandment to the people of this day, tithing is “‘one-tenth of all their interest annually,’ which is understood to mean income.” The First Presidency has said, “No one is justified in making any other statement than this” (First Presidency letter, 19 Mar. 1970, quoted in the General Handbook of Instructions, 1989, p. 9-1; see also D&C 119). We pay tithing, as the Savior taught, by bringing the tithes “into the storehouse” (Mal. 3:10; 3 Ne. 24:10). We do this by paying our tithing to our bishop or branch president. We do not pay tithing by contributing to our favorite charities. The contributions we should make to charities come from our own funds, not from the tithes we are commanded to pay to the storehouse of the Lord" (Dallin H. Oaks, April 1994 General Conference).

How Tithing Funds are Used
Q How are tithing funds used?
Q What's the Bishop's cut of our tithing?

3. "Tithing funds are used to support the ongoing activities of the Church, such as building and maintaining temples and meetinghouses, carrying the gospel to all the world, conducting temple and family history work, and many other worldwide activities. Tithing does not pay local Church leaders, who serve without receiving payment of any kind. Local Church leaders send the tithing received each week directly to Church headquarters. A council comprised of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and the Presiding Bishopric determines specific ways to use the sacred tithing funds" (Preach My Gospel).

Tithing Helps Prepare Us to Live with God and to Become More Like Him
4. "We have been given commandments to help us prepare in every way to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father" (Gospel Principles, Tithing).

Q How does paying tithing help prepare us to live with God? Help us to be more like God?

5. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

6. "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself of all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments. Therefore, forsake the world, and save your souls; for what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (JST Matthew 16:24, 26).

7. "We can have eternal life if we want it, but only if there is nothing else we want more" (Bruce C. Hafen, April 2004 General Conference).

The Blessings of Tithing

Conditional Blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Forgiveness, salvation, exaltation, eternal families, hope, overcome weaknesses, godly character/divine attributes, self control, guidance, comfort, joy, peace, strength, healing, etc.

To receive the conditional blessings of the atonement, we must live the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
          ·         Faith- belief in, trust in, and commitment to obey Christ
          ·         Repent- submit will to Christ and change behavior to follow Him; seek forgiveness and a change of heart
          ·         Covenants- make/keep promises by priesthood authority to follow the example of Jesus Christ, such as baptism.
          ·         Holy Ghost- receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, invite and follow His guidance
          ·         Endure to the end- consistently grow our faith, repent, keep our covenants, and receive the Holy Ghost

Q How does paying tithing help us to live the gospel and receive the blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ?

8. "I, the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men. Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming" (D&C 64:22-23).

9. "Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me.  But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?  In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 3:8-12).

Q How have you seen the windows of heaven opened and blessings poured out upon your family as you have kept the law of tithing?

Q How have you seen the blessings promised in verses 11 and 12?

10. "We might conclude that since we pay tithing with money, the Lord will always bless us with money.... I have... learned it doesn’t necessarily work that way. The Lord promises blessings to those who pay their tithing. He promises to “open … the windows of heaven, and pour … out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). I testify that He fulfills His promises, and if we faithfully pay our tithing, we will not lack for the necessities of life, but He does not promise wealth. Money and bank accounts are not His richest blessings. He blesses us with wisdom to manage our limited material resources, wisdom that enables us to live better with 90 percent of our income than with 100 percent. Thus, faithful tithe payers understand provident living and tend to be more self-reliant.

"I have come to understand that the Lord’s richest blessings are spiritual, and they often have to do with family, friends, and the gospel. He often seems to give the blessing of a special sensitivity to the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, especially in marriage and family matters like raising children. Such spiritual sensitivity can help us enjoy the blessings of harmony and peace in the home. President James E. Faust suggested that the payment of tithing is “an excellent insurance against divorce” (“Enriching Your Marriage,” Liahona, Apr. 2007, 5; Ensign, Apr. 2007, 7).

"The payment of tithing helps us develop a submissive and humble heart and a grateful heart that tends to “confess … his hand in all things” (D&C 59:21). Tithe-paying fosters in us a generous and forgiving heart and a charitable heart full of the pure love of Christ. We become eager to serve and bless others with an obedient heart, submissive to the Lord’s will. Regular tithe payers find their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ strengthened, and they develop a firm, abiding testimony of His gospel and of His Church. None of these blessings are monetary or material in any way, but surely they are the Lord’s richest blessings" (Carl B. Pratt, April 2011 General Conference).

Q In what ways is tithing more a matter of faith than a matter of money?

Q How does paying tithing show our gratitude to our Heavenly Father for all His blessings to us?

Q Why is our attitude important as we pay tithing?

Q What suggestions do you have to help someone who struggles to pay tithing?
           
Q Why is it important to teach our children to pay tithing? What suggestions do you have for how to teach them?

Other Offerings
Fast Offerings- assist the poor and needy living in our ward
Ward Missionary- help pay the costs of missionaries serving from our ward
General Missionary- helps support global missionary work
Humanitarian Aid- disaster relief, provide vaccinations, clean water, etc.
Book of Mormon- fund printing and translation of the Book of Mormon
Temple Construction- assists in building new temples
Perpetual Education- provides low interest loans to pay for education
Temple Patron Assistance- assists with travel costs for members to attend the temple
Please share your testimony of the principles covered in this lesson or share a favorite scripture or quote that wasn't included.

Friday, December 18, 2015

The Law of Chastity

Source

1. "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?... [He] said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  And they which heard it... went out one by one... and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst... He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers?  hath no man condemned thee?  She said, No man, Lord.  And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 9:3-5, 7, 9-12).

We will be talking about the Law of Chastity today. As this is a sensitive subject, let us remember the example of Jesus Christ with the woman taken in adultery to focus on repenting and living the law, without judgmentally throwing stones of condemnation. Please be sensitive in your comments.

The Law of Chastity
2. "Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and... the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children" (The Family: A Procolmation to the World).

3. "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.... The Lord’s standard regarding sexual purity is clear and unchanging. Do not have any sexual relations before marriage, and be completely faithful to your spouse after marriage. Do not allow the media, your peers, or others to persuade you that sexual intimacy before marriage is acceptable. It is not. In God’s sight, sexual sins are extremely serious. They defile the sacred power God has given us to create life. The prophet Alma taught that sexual sins are more serious than any other sins except murder or denying the Holy Ghost (see Alma 39:5).

"Never do anything that could lead to sexual transgression. Treat others with respect, not as objects used to satisfy lustful and selfish desires. Before marriage, do not participate in passionate kissing, lie on top of another person, or touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body, with or without clothing. Do not do anything else that arouses sexual feelings. Do not arouse those emotions in your own body. Pay attention to the promptings of the Spirit so that you can be clean and virtuous. The Spirit of the Lord will withdraw from one who is in sexual transgression" (For the Strength of Youth).

4. "Behold, it is written by them of old time, that thou shalt not commit adultery; But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart. Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart; For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these things, wherein ye will take up your cross, than that ye should be cast into hell" (3 Nephi 12:27-30).

5. “Thou shalt not … commit adultery, … nor do anything like unto it” (D&C 59:6).

6. Victims of sexual abuse are not guilty of sin and do not need to repent. If you have been a victim of abuse, know that you are innocent and that God loves you. Talk to your parents or another trusted adult, and seek your bishop’s counsel immediately. They can support you spiritually and assist you in getting the protection and help you need. The process of healing may take time. Trust in the Savior. He will heal you and give you peace" (For the Strength of Youth).

Review: Sexual purity in thought, word and action. Chastity includes strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage and complete fidelity and loyalty to one's spouse after marriage.

Q What questions do you have about what it means to keep or break the law of chastity?

Q Why did God give us the Law of Chastity?

Blessings of Keeping the Law of Chastity

Conditional Blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Forgiveness, salvation, exaltation, eternal families, hope, overcome weaknesses, godly character/divine attributes, self control, guidance, comfort, joy, peace, strength, healing, etc.

To receive the conditional blessings of the atonement, we must live the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
           ·         Faith- belief in, trust in, and commitment to obey Christ
          ·         Repent- submit will to Christ and change behavior to follow Him; seek forgiveness and a change of heart
          ·         Covenants- make/keep promises by priesthood authority to follow the example of Jesus Christ, such as baptism.
          ·         Holy Ghost- receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, invite and follow His guidance
          ·         Endure to the end- consistently grow our faith, repent, keep our covenants, and receive the Holy Ghost


Q How does keeping the Law of Chastity help us to live the gospel and receive the blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ?

Q What other blessings can come from keeping the Law of Chastity? To individuals? To Families? To Communities?

Q Why is breaking the Law of Chastity such a serious sin? What are the potential harms? What blessings can we not have unless we repent and live the Law of Chastity?

7. "When you are 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 an eternal and loving family. You protect yourself from the spiritual and emotional damage that come from sharing sexual intimacy outside of marriage. You also protect yourself from harmful diseases. Remaining sexually pure helps you to be confident and truly happy and improves your ability to make good decisions now and in the future" (For the Strength of Youth).

8. "Sometimes people try to convince themselves that sexual relations outside of marriage are acceptable if the participants love one another. This is not true. Breaking the law of chastity and encouraging someone else to do so is not an expression of love. People who love each other will never endanger one another’s happiness and safety in exchange for temporary personal pleasure. When people care for one another enough to keep the law of chastity, their love, trust, and commitment increase, resulting in greater happiness and unity. In contrast, relationships built on sexual immorality sour quickly. Those who engage in sexual immorality often feel fear, guilt, and shame. Bitterness, jealousy, and hatred soon replace any positive feelings that once existed in their relationship.

"Our Heavenly Father has given us the law of chastity for our protection. Obedience to this law is essential to personal peace and strength of character and to happiness in the home. As you keep yourself sexually pure... you will be sensitive to the Holy Ghost’s guidance, strength, comfort, and protection " (True to the Faith).

 9. “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" (Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1997 General Conference).

Keeping the Law of Chastity in Day to Day Living
Q How do we keep the Law of Chastity in day to day living?
  • Actions
  • Thoughtsj
  • Words
  • Interactions with others
  • Etnertainment
  • Dress
10. "Above all, start by separating yourself from people, materials, and circumstances that will harm you....  Acknowledge that people bound by the chains of true addictions often need more help than self-help [see http://addictionrecovery.lds.org]. Along with filters on computers and a lock on affections, remember that the only real control in life is self-control. Exercise more control over even the marginal moments that confront you. 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" (Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2010 General Conference).

Q What are early steps that can lead to breaking the Law of Chastity and how can we keep from going down those paths?

11. "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.... Paul taught, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Alma emphasized that we will “not be tempted above that which [we] can bear” as we “humble [ourselves] before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually” (Alma 13:28)." (Gospel Principles).

12. "Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thoughts can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don’t have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and then tell them where the silverware is kept! (You shouldn’t be serving tea anyway.) Throw the rascals out! Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful images and joyful memories; picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down. More than one man has been saved from sin or stupidity by remembering the face of his mother, his wife, or his child waiting somewhere for him at home" (Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2010 General Conference).

13. "Cultivate and be where the Spirit of the Lord is. Make sure that includes your own home or apartment, dictating the kind of art, music, and literature you keep there" (Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2010 General Conference).

14. "Most people in trouble end up crying, “What was I thinking?” Well, whatever they were thinking, they weren’t thinking of Christ. Yet, as members of His Church, we pledge every Sunday of our lives to take upon ourselves His name and promise to “always remember him.” So let us work a little harder at remembering Him—especially that He has “borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows … , [that] he was bruised for our iniquities … ; and with his stripes we are healed.” Surely it would guide our actions in a dramatic way if we remembered that every time we transgress, we hurt not only those we love, but we also hurt Him, who so dearly loves us. But if we do sin, however serious that sin may be, we can be rescued by that same majestic figure, He who bears the only name given under heaven whereby any man or woman can be saved" (Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2010 General Conference).

13. "If you have committed sexual transgression, talk to your bishop now and begin the process of repentance so that you can find peace and have the full companionship of the Spirit" (For the Strength of Youth). 

Principles to Follow that Help Us Keep the Law of Chastity

"No matter how strong temptations seem, the Lord will help you withstand them if you choose to follow Him. The Apostle Paul declared, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). The following counsel can help you overcome the frequent and blatant temptations in the world today:

"Decide now to be chaste. You need to make this decision only once. Make the decision now, before the temptation comes, and let your decision be so firm and with such deep commitment that it can never be shaken. Determine now that you will never do anything outside of marriage to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. Do not arouse those emotions in another person’s body or in your own body. Determine now that you will be completely true to your spouse.

"Control your thoughts. No one commits sexual sin in an instant. Immoral acts always begin with impure thoughts. If you allow your thoughts to linger on obscene or immoral things, you have already taken the first step toward immorality. Flee immediately from situations that may lead to sin. Pray for constant strength to resist temptation and control your thoughts. Make this a part of your daily prayers.

"Stay away from pornography. Do not view, read, or listen to anything that depicts or describes the human body or sexual conduct in a way that can arouse sexual feelings. Pornographic materials are addictive and destructive. They can rob you of your self-respect and of a sense of the beauties of life. They can tear you down and lead you to evil thoughts and abusive conduct.

"If you are single and dating, always treat your date with respect. Never treat him or her as an object to be used for lustful desires. Carefully plan positive and constructive activities so that you and your date are not left alone without anything to do. Stay in areas of safety where you can easily control yourself. Do not participate in conversations or activities that arouse sexual feelings. Do not participate in passionate kissing, lie with or on top of another person, or touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body, with or without clothing. Do not allow anyone to do such things with you.

"If you are married, be faithful to your spouse in your thoughts, words, and actions. The Lord has said:

“Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else. And he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit; and if he repents not he shall be cast out” (D&C 42:22–23). Never flirt in any way. As much as possible, avoid being alone with anyone of the opposite sex. Ask yourself if your spouse would be pleased if he or she knew of your words or actions. Remember the Apostle Paul’s counsel to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). When you stay away from such circumstances, temptation gets no chance to develop" (True to the Faith).
Conclusion

"[Registered for silverware when first married and didn’t receive any as a gift, Slowly gathered silverware over years piece by piece. When they finally had enough for service for four:]

“Before [guests] came, we would have a little discussion in the kitchen. Which utensils would we use, the battered and mismatched stainless or the special silverware? In those early days I would often vote for the stainless. It was easier. You could just throw it in the dishwasher after the meal, and it took care of itself. The silver, on the other hand, was a lot of work. My wife had it hidden away under the bed where it could not be found easily by a burglar. She had insisted that I buy a tarnish-free cloth to wrap it in. Each piece was in a separate pocket, and it was no easy task to assemble all the pieces. When the silver was used, it had to be hand washed and dried so that it would not spot, and put back in the pockets so it would not tarnish, and wrapped up and carefully hidden again so it would not get stolen. If any tarnish was discovered, I was sent to buy silver polish, and together we carefully rubbed the stains away.

"[The silverware was carefully cared for over years,]

“For years I thought she was just a little bit eccentric, and then one day I realized that she had known for a long time something that I was just beginning to understand. If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t expose it to the elements. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by. Eternal marriage is just like that " (F. Burton Howard, April 2003 General Conference). 

Key talks about the law of chastity can be found at

Key talks about strengthening families can be found at

Key talks about strengthening youth can be found at

Key talks about repentance can be found at

Key talks about addiction can be found at

Please share your testimony of the principles covered in this lesson or share a favorite scripture or quote that wasn't included.