The Choices We Make

Inter-Denominational Lesson
Copper Hills Youth Center
January 22, 2006

This is a lesson I gave at the Copper Hills Youth Center, which is a residential treatment center for troubled youths. This was a non-denominational church service for the residents there. As such, only scriptures from the Bible are to be used in the lesson. We are allowed to teach LDS doctrines from the bible, however. You can read about my thoughts concerning my vist to the treatment center here.

Here is the lesson plan I developed and used in the services:

Garden of Eden

• How many of you remember the Bible story about the Garden of Eden?
• Who was in the Garden of Eden? (Adam and Eve)
• They lived in a state of innocence. There was no death, and there was no birth.

What commandments were given to Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden?

Read Scriptures
Genesis 1:27-28
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,

Genesis 2:17
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

They were given two commandments in the Garden:

• Bring Children into the world
• To not partake of the forbidden fruit (Tree of knowledge of good and evil) – If they were to partake of it, they would surly die.

Read Scripture
Genesis 3:4-5
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

• What happened in the Garden of Eden?
• Satan came to tempt them.
• Satan told them that they would not surly die, but that they would become like God, knowing good and evil.
• Eve partook of the fruit, and then gave it to Adam, who also partook of it.

What were the consequences of partaking of the forbidden fruit?

• They became mortal, they would eventually die.
• They were now able to have children – so that each of us could be born.
• They now knew the difference between good and evil.
• They learned that there would be consequences for their actions
  

The Promise of A Savior

After leaving the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were promised that one-day a Savior would be born. The Savior would counter-act the effects of the fall of man, when he was cast out of the Garden of Eden:

The Savior would take upon himself the pains and sins of the world.

• Because of this, he knows what it feels like to have problems and afflictions in life. He has experienced them all personally.
• Because of paying the price for all of our sins, we can be forgiven and cleansed of our sins, upon conditions of repentance.

The Savior would lay down his life for each of us, and take it up again, as a resurrected being.

• Through his death and resurrection, the way has been opened for all those who have lived on earth, to one-day be resurrected too.

Through the Fall and the Atonement, God has:

• Provided a way that we can come to earth and receive physical bodies.
• Created an environment in which we can be agents unto ourselves, and make our own choices, whether to do good or evil.
• Through the Atonement a way has been provided to obtain forgiveness of our sins and mistakes.
• Provided victory over death through the resurrection of Christ.

Good Vs. Evil

With the fall of Adam and Eve both good and evil forces were introduced into the world. It’s like there are two armies, one good, and one evil.

• Who is the head of the Good Army?
• Who is the head of the Evil Army?
• Who will eventually be the winner in this battle?
• Jesus will win. It’s not really even a close fight. Christ and his forces will eventually overpower Satan and his army, and banish them forever!

We know who will win. The question is, whose side will we be on?

Making Choices

Each of us has two forces acting upon us. We have the Light of Jesus Christ, which leads us to do good things.

On the other hand, Satan and his followers will try to get us to choose evil.

Each of us has been given a gift from God to decide for ourselves what choices we will make.

We will always have our freedom to choose for ourselves what our actions will be.

He will never take that choice away from us.

What happens to us when we make a good choice?

• We know we will choosing to follow Jesus, and be on his side.
• We will feel good about ourselves
• We know that what we are doing is pleasing to God
• We will be happy

What happens when we choose to do evil?

• Our conscience feels bad
• We get in trouble
• We will have to face the consequences of our bad decisions.
• We will be miserable.

When we are trying to choose good from evil, we always need to remember that if we choose good, we will find happiness. If we choose evil, we will find misery.

The choice is always yours to make.

The Temptations of Christ

After Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan, he went into the wilderness to commune with God. He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.

Near the end of his fast, Satan came tempting him:

Read Scripture
Matthew 4:2-4
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Imagine how hungry you would be if you hadn’t eaten for 40 days and nights!

What was Satan trying to get Jesus to do?

• He is trying to get him to give in to his bodily appetites.
• One way Satan tries to get to us appeal to the things that are pleasing to the body.
• He wants us to use, or abuse our bodies in ways they were not intended to be used.
• One of the main responsibilities we have in life is to learn how to control our bodies, so that we use them in the way that God intended.

What was Jesus’ response to the devil’s temptation?

He said that it was more important for him to keep God’s commandments, than it was to satisfy his hunger right at that moment.

Eventually he would end his fast, and eat. But it would be on his terms, not on Satan’s terms.

Read Scripture
Matthew 4:5-7
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

How is Satan trying to tempt Jesus this time?

• He is appealing to Jesus’ pride.
• He wants Jesus to show off to others so he can prove how important he is.

Does Satan ever try to tempt us in this way?

• Do you do things that you think will be impressive to others?
• Do you do things because you think they are cool?
• Show others how cool you are?
• Do things to please others so they will accept you.

Who should we really worry about pleasing?

• If we are pleasing to the Lord, does it really matter if we please others?
• Eventually all our friends, and those that we were trying to impress will fade away, but the Lord will be there always and forever.
• One day we will have to stand before God, to be judged of how we have lived our lives here on earth.
• Satan’s big lie is to get you to forget about doing what is pleasing to God, and get you to do things that that might seem important right now, but will be of no worth when we stand to be judged of God.

Read Scripture
Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

What is Satan trying to tempt Jesus with this time?

• He promises power, fame, fortune.
• He is trying to get Jesus to fall down and worship the false gods of this world – the riches, treasures of the world, like friends and others, will also fade away after this life is over. Worshiping a false god of any will prevent us from having the joy and happiness that we might have otherwise had.

Read Scripture
Mark 8:36
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Summary

• Remember that there are two forces in the world, good and evil.
• It is always up to us to choose which side we will follow
• There will always be consequences to our choices, whether good or evil.
• We can gain strength by starting to do good things. Good things will become easier and easier, as we gain more experience in choosing to do good.
• Remember that we will have to one-day stand before God to give an accounting of our lives.

We are not alone in this fight. God is always there for us. The Light of Christ shines forth throughout the earth. There is no place so far away, that God cannot reach you. He is always there to give you guidance, and lead you back to Him.

Helping Youth Prepare For Missionary Service

Plant The Idea to Serve Very Early In Life
Preparing a son or daughter to go on a mission, is a lifelong processes. Waiting until a young man turns 18 and then suggesting that he go on a mission is way too late to begin. Going on a mission, and eternal marriage should be taught and looked forward to from early childhood.

Elder Marvin K. Gardner gives an example of this from his life:

As I look back now, I can see a lot of things dad and mother did—sometimes subtly and other times not so subtly—to help us get ready for our missions. They made missionary training a natural part of life.

That’s how they got their eight sons to help out with the washing, the ironing, the cleaning, and the cooking. (Our little sister came last.) It was all good experience, they kept telling us—experience for marriage, yes. But first, experience for the time we’d have to fend for ourselves on a mission.

That’s how they kept us from getting too serious with a girl too soon. During high school, it’s best to date lots of girls instead of just one, they said, to avoid the possibility of having to choose between marriage and a mission.

That’s how they got us to save our money instead of spending it all the minute we made it.

I’m not saying that dad and mother brought up the word mission every time they corrected us or tried to get us to do something; they didn’t have to. A mission was only one of the many things they were helping us prepare for. But they helped us see that preparation for a mission was good preparation for the rest of our lives. That’s why I never thought dad and mother had one-track minds stuck on missionary work. That’s why I don’t remember ever feeling pushed or coerced to serve a mission. We all expected to go on a mission just like we all expected to . . . get married in the temple. (Marvin K. Gardner, “What Parents Can Do … Before the Call Comes,” Ensign, Dec. 1979, 7)

It was much the same in my home, as I was growing up. When my two brothers and I turned 19, each of us expected to go on a mission, and were looking forward to it. Each of us made our own choice to go; we were not forced or pressured to leave. However, the idea of going on a mission just seemed to be natural part of life. And it was!

Obtaining a Knowledge and Testimony of the Gospel
With the recent changes to the missionary discussions, missionaries no longer memorize discussions. Instead, they study and learn gospel doctrines and principles in five basic lessons, and create individualized lesson plans for each investigator, or new convert. In order to teach effectively, each missionary needs to know the gospel himself.

Parents need to emphasize the importance of studying the gospel in their own homes, years before the mission call comes. Regular family scripture study and home evenings can go a long way toward helping children learn the gospel. Family scripture study also helps reinforce the scriptures as a prominent part of our daily lives. Attendance at Sunday meetings, seminary, and youth activities should also be encouraged by parents to help youth people learn the gospel for themselves.

Perhaps the single most effective tool for learning the gospel, and gaining a personal testimony is the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith once said that:

“. . .the Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding its precepts, than by any other book. (History of the Church 1:461.)

We all know the promise contained within the Book of Mormon itself, that if we will study it, ponder, and pray to know the truth, that the Holy Ghost will manifest the truthfulness of what is contained in the Book of Mormon to our hearts and minds. (See Moroni 10:3-5)

Recording For Future Playback
Our minds are wonderful things. All the studying we do, both before and during our missions is indelibly recorded in our brains. The power Heavenly Father has given our brains to absorb and retain information is one of the reasons that we must be careful about the kinds of words and images we view. Sometimes as mortals – especially when we get older – we have a hard time recalling all the information that has been stored in our minds.

However, the Holy Ghost has a key to unlock our minds. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, all that we have previously studied and learned can become available to us as we teach the gospel. One of the special functions of the Holy Ghost is to bring all these things to our remembrance. (See John 14:26)

If we have diligently studied and learned the gospel, the Spirit will bring the things we learned back to our remembrance, just in the moment they are needed in teaching situations. I know this was the case with me when I was on my mission. A scripture, or a concept would just pop into my head at the most opportune moments. I learned that this was Spirit prompting me to teach the things that the person I was teaching needed to hear – at that very moment.

On the other hand, if we have not sufficiently prepared ourselves, the Spirit will have less within us to work with, and we will not be as effective of a teacher as we might have otherwise have been.

Help Youth to Recognize the Spirit
Having a good working knowledge of the gospel is important. However, having a personal witness of the truthfulness of the restored gospel makes for a far more powerful and effective teacher.

Investigators can sense whether or not you really believe what you are teaching. When you teach with the spirit and with a personal testimony, you teach with power. Power that communicates spirit to spirit. Power that will cause hearts to soften and change. When you teach with the spirit, you will see miracles happen as people hear the voice of the Lord, through you, and make the necessary changes in their lives to come unto him and be baptized. There is no greater work.

As parents, one of the greatest things we can do is to help our children learn to recognize the presence of the Holy ghost. Take the time when you have your family scripture study, or home evenings to point out moments when the presence of the Spirit can be felt. In fact, helping children and youth learn to feel the promptings and impressions of the spirit may be even more important than the subject matter that you are teaching at the time. Because once a person learns how to receive light and knowledge from the Holy Spirit, the key to the knowledge of all things is then opened up to them.

Using “Preach My Gospel” in the Home
A little over a year ago, the updated missionary manual “Preach My Gospel” was introduced. This manual contains mission rules, missionary study materials, as well as the concepts of the gospel that they are to teach investigators and new members. Missionaries are to create individualized lesson plans for each investigator or new convert.

Unlike previous full-time missionary resources, Preach My Gospel is available to any leader or member of the church through the church distribution center.

Speaking of “Preach My Gospel”, Elder Richard G. Scott, in the April 2005 General Conference said:

[Preach My Gospel was] developed primarily for full-time missionary use. [However], this material has also proven to be most beneficial for parents who want to help children prepare for a mission. Young men and women as well as some couples are using the resource to get a head start before entering the missionary training centers. Some priesthood leaders have confirmed its worth in preparing Aaronic Priesthood brethren for missions. (Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Preach My Gospel,” Ensign, May 2005, 29)

You might be interested to know some of what is contained in Preach My Gospel. Here are a few of the chapter headings:

• How do I study effectively and prepare to teach?


• How do I recognize and understand the Spirit?


• What is the role of the Book of Mormon?


• How do I develop Christlike attributes?


• How do I use time wisely?


• How do I find people to teach?


• How can I improve my teaching skills?

Family Home evenings could be based on Preach My Gospel, and each family member, as they are old enough, can take turns in teaching from its pages. This will help them become familiar with what missionaries do, and how they live, as well provide opportunities for every family member to prepare and teach lessons. Being able to stand up before a group, and make a presentation is an invaluable skill for missionaries.

Practical Living Skills
Practical living skills are also important for a young man, or young woman as they enter the mission field. Things like basic cooking skills, how to do laundry and household cleaning, and even a little bit of basic sewing – like how to sew on a button. Other practical skills like budgeting, time management, and goal setting are also great preparation for a mission. Many of these skills can be learned throughout their lives from daily chores and responsibilities around the house.

So kids -- when your parents ask you to do the dishes, or clean up your room, they are not only wanting you to do your chores, but they are also trying to help you prepare for your mission as well. While its true, parents could do these chores themselves, they are actually unselfishly trying to help you prepare for your mission, and for your life later on after you leave home!

These practical life-skills not only prepare youth for their missions, but for when they go off to college, and later when they get married and begin new homes and families of their own.

Physical and Mental Preparedness
Spiritual preparedness, and the ability to take care of oneself on your own are important ways to prepare for a mission. However, we also need to prepare ourselves physically and mentally as well.

One thing you will find, is that missionary work is hard, strenuous work – both physically and mentally! A missionary’s day begins early in the morning, at 6:30 am, and their whole day is filled with scheduled activities until 10:30 pm. It takes a lot of energy to be a missionary. Being in good physical condition is important to be being able to keep up with what is expected of you.

Likewise, good mental health is also important for effective missionary service. One problem many missionaries struggle with is homesickness. It is good for youth to occasionally spend some time away from home. This can come in the form of scout or young women’s camps. Spending a few days away from home with grandma and grandpa, or an aunt or uncle when school is not in session is another way to learn about being away from home. Time spent away from home, while going to college also his an excellent way to learn how to function on one’s own, while still being able to call mom or dad on a regular basis, or come home for the weekend if you are close enough to home.

When a young man or woman enters the mission field, it is time to leave the thoughts of home, school, and girlfriends behind. Time serving on a full-time mission is consecrated time. When we agree to missionary service, we are asked to serve with all our hearts, might, mind, and strength. If a part of us is still so wrapped up in life back home, we cannot fully focus on our missionary responsibilities, and we are not able to give the full measure of service that is required.

Teaching our children how to deal with discouragement is also another way in which parents can prepare their children for the mission field, and for life in general. Missionary work is filled with many ups and downs. There are many great and marvelous experiences to be had. However, we know that there is opposition in all things, and along with those highs, will be some low moments as well. We cannot expect every moment of our mission, or of our live to be one continuous high. Young people need to learn how to deal with discouragement, and how to continue pressing forward, with faith, even in the face of adversity.

Discouragement comes to all missionaries at one time or another. It is not the same thing as depression. Individuals who are prone to serious states of depression or mental illness, who have previously required counseling and medication should consult with their priesthood leaders prior to submitting an application for missionary service. The application must include an honest history. If medication has been prescribed, it should be continued while serving in the mission field. (See: S. Brent Scharman, “Preparing Your Future Missionary,” Ensign, Oct. 2004, 17)

The Example of Parents
A tradition of missionary work also plays a strong roll in preparing children for missionary service.

If one, or both of the parents has served a mission, parents should regularly share their missionary experiences with their children. When personal experiences are shared with our children, missionary work becomes that much more real to them. If you kept a missionary journal while on your mission, you might want share some of your journal entries, photographs or other memorabilia with your family as part of home evening lessons from time-to-time. Be sure to share your testimony along with your reminiscences. This will help create a legacy and tradition of missionary service in your family, which your children can look forward to carrying on themselves.

The example of how parents live their everyday is also powerful in preparing children for missions. As children see you keeping your covenants, attending your meetings, fulfilling your callings, and supporting priesthood leaders, they will know that you are putting the Lord first in your life. They will see that you have chosen to make the sacrifices necessary to follow the Lord. This example will be a great motivator for them when they too, must come to grips with the sacrifice that is being asked of them, and consecrate two years of their young lives on the altar of the Lord.

Be Involved in Member Missionary Work
All of the things we have talked about thus far, are important, excellent ways in which to prepare our youth to serve missions. All of these things are quite useful and necessary.

However, if I were to choose one single way, that you can best prepare a child for a mission, it would be to become missionaries now!

If you, as a family are actively seeking out missionary opportunities, and inviting your friends and neighbors to be taught the gospel in your own home, you will provide the opportunity for your children to see real missionaries in action!

Having the full-missionaries frequently in your home, as they teach a neighbor or friend brings a powerful spirit into your home. What better preparation for a mission is there than actually seeing the change of conversion come over a friend or loved-one as they accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a powerful influence it will be on your children as they see investigators enter the waters of baptism, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Let your own children study and pray, and gain their own testimonies of the gospel, right along with the investigators who are being taught in your home.

The spirit and the example of the full-time missionaries will also rub-off on your whole family as well. If your home is filled with the spirit of missionary work, your children will be also. They will have tasted of that sweet spirit the gospel brings, and have a desire to share it with others. And when the time comes, it will be their desire to serve a full-time mission, and declare the glad tidings of the gospel to all who will hear.

The Greatest Battle

The following is a talk given at the Utah Boy's Ranch on January 1, 2006. The audience was mostly comprised of young men between the ages of 10-18. Most of them do not have a strong foundation in the Jesus Christ. It was my hope to help them gain a better perspective of who they are, and why they are here on earth.

The War In Heaven
Long ago, at the council in heaven, we each chose to follow the plan of our Heavenly Father. Satan and his followers were cast out of heaven, losing forever their ability to obtain physical bodies for themselves.

Because we chose to follow Jesus, we gained the privilege to come to earth and obtain mortal bodies. We were all excited to obtain these bodies and looked forward to the new experiences having a body would bring. We were charged with the responsibility to take possession of our bodies, and make it our servant. We are to respect our bodies, yet our spirit was intended to be the master over our bodies.

Satan, of course was not happy about any of this. He wanted to overthrow Heavenly Father, and to defeat Jesus. That is why the first battle of the war in Heaven was fought, which resulted in Satan being cast out. (Satan’s plan was foiled.)

Garden Of Eden
Having lost that battle, Satan next tried to defeat Heavenly Father’s plan in the Garden of Eden. He thought that by getting Adam and Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit, that he would foil Heavenly Father’s plan. What actually happened, however, was the Fall of Adam opened the door so that all of Heavenly Father’s spirit children who remained in Heaven, could come to earth to obtain physical bodies. (Satan’s plan didn’t work as he expected in the Garden of Eden.)

Lucifer Vs. Christ in Mortality
Later, Jesus was born, began his mortal ministry, and was tempted of the devil. He tried to appeal to Savior’s physical appetites, and to his pride. Jesus saw right through what Satan was trying to do, and sent the devil away. Later, Satan planted hate, fear and jealousy into the hearts of evil men. They had Jesus arrested on false charges, and had him crucified. Once again, Satan’s plan was foiled. The very purpose that Jesus came into the world was to lay down his life for all mankind, as a sacrifice for sin. By giving up his life, Jesus also was able to break the bands of death when he was resurrected. Through the death and resurrection of Christ, all mankind will be resurrected and live again. Through the atonement of the Savior, we may all be forgiven of our sins if we will repent. Satan’s plan didn’t work out too well that time either. – Are you sensing a pattern here?

Satan Vs. Joseph Smith
Later, in the spring of 1820, the 14-year old Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees to pray. Satan knew who Joseph was, and that he was to bring about the restoration of the gospel to the earth. The prophets have foretold that the gospel will go forth until it fills the entire earth. It will never again be taken from the earth, until the time when the Savior returns again in his Glory.

As Joseph knelt in the Sacred Grove, Satan tried to overpower him. Joseph felt that his life was in danger, yet he still pressed on in faith. Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to the prophet Joseph, and dispelled away the power of Satan. Through Joseph Smith, the gospel was restored. Once again, Satan influenced evil men to conspire to take away the life of the Prophet. But by then Joseph Smith had completed his work, the gospel was restored, and the church is now in process of filling up the whole earth, as was prophesied.

The Final Battle
As we can see, and various critical moments in the plan of salvation, Satan was there to try to defeat the plan. At every one of these instances, Jesus has won the battle every time. I’ve got news for you – it will always be that way. At some point in time, a final battle will be fought, and Jesus, and those who stand with him will win the war once and for all. Satan will be bound forever, and cast into that outer darkness where he and his followers will spend the eternities.

The outcome of this battle between Jesus and Satan is not in question. Jesus will win. The real question then becomes, on whose side will we be at the last battle. Will we be with Jesus, or will we be with Satan.

All of Satan’s attempts to foil the plan of salvation have failed thus far. Eventually that final battle will take place between Jesus and Satan will take place. But in the meantime, what is the battle front now?

The Battle For The Souls of Men
Satan is not just waiting around for the big battle to happen. He is actively recruiting people to come and join his side. The battle’s front, right now is an individual battle for the hearts and souls of mankind. That means that he is actively trying to get you and me to come over to his side. How does he do this?

The primary way that Satan will try to tempt us is through the flesh. Each of us is made up two parts: our spirits, which come from God, and our bodies, which come from our earthly parents. When we received our bodies, we were commanded to make our spirits the masters of our bodies. When we give in to the lusts, appetites, and ambitions of the flesh, we are allowing our bodies to control our spirits.

Most of the help that we will receive from Heavenly Father will come through our spirits, from the Light of Christ, and from the Holy Ghost. Satan will try to tempt us through our bodies, or through the flesh.

A key way we can know how well we are doing in our spiritual progress is to ask ourselves who is winning, the spirit or the flesh?

Me Vs. It
Elder Melvin J. Ballard describes the relationship between our bodies and sprits this way:

I should like to speak of spirit and body as “me” and “it.” “Me” is the individual who dwells in this body, who lived before I had such a body, and who will live when I step out of the body. “It” is the house I live in, the tabernacle of flesh; and the great conflict is between “me” and “it.” (“Struggle for the Soul”, Melvin J. Ballard, New Era, March 1984, p 32 – Talk Originally given May 5, 1928 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle)

Examine Ourselves
So, how does the battle go for you my friends? Each of us needs to take the time to occasionally examine ourselves, and see how our battle to overcome the flesh is going. Each week, as we attend sacrament meeting, we have a special time set aside just for this very purpose – when the sacrament is blessed and passed to the congregation.

During this time of quiet, we can look at our own lives, and our own behaviors, and determine whether or not we have yielded ourselves to the tempter. If this is so, then we need to repent and make peace with those we may have offended. We need to re-new our covenant to serve God, and to keep his commandments, as we do when we partake of the sacrament. If we do this, we can be cleansed and purified of our sins.

Fasting
Once a month, we all have the opportunity to fast. This is a time when we have the opportunity to show our body just who is boss! Who will win? – The flesh, or the spirit. It seems like that as soon as we decide to fast, that our body begins to cry out in protest. It starts to whine and fuss with things like:

1 “My head will ache, my knees will quake, I shall feel faint; I cannot fast so long; I must eat a little.” Are you yielding? If so, we know who is winning that battle, and who is gaining the mastery.

2 On the other hand, your spirit can say such things as: “You can do without these two meals; it will not hurt you. And though my head may ache and my body may feel faint, I will not die; I am bigger than you are, and once a month I will show you that I am master.”

What strength that will give you to resist tomorrow when some other craving arrives! It may be for liquor, tobacco, or some other craving of the flesh because you have already defeated the flesh as you fasted. Likewise, you can defeat the flesh in these other desires.

One of the blessings of fasting is that we will be given power to overcome the bondage of sin. (See Isaiah 58:6-11) Fasting is a powerful way to obtain mastery over the flesh.

The Light of Christ
Remember that you are not alone in this fight. Satan and his followers may be trying to tempt you to do wrong, but remember, that God is also sending forth his influence to help you overcome Satan. He does sending forth the Light of Christ, which is shed forth upon every person that comes into the world.

Sometimes the Light of Christ is called a moral sense, or our conscience, The Light of Christ will always direct us to make good choices, and to avoid evil, unless we subdue it, or silence it.

We are taught in that in order to be tested, there must be an opposition in the choices that we make. On the one hand we have the Light of Christ, which inspires us to do good; and on the other hand we have Satan and his followers, which tempt us to do evil. These two forces are set in opposition to one another. We are in the middle, between these to forces tugging at us in opposite directions. We have been given our moral agency are free to choose for ourselves which course we will follow.

The choice is always ours. The gift of agency, besides the gift of life itself, is one of the greatest gifts God has given his children. The Light of Christ is always there, calling and beckoning to us, we are free to respond to it by our own choice – it is never forced upon us. The greatest conflict that any of us will have is this inner conflict that each of us must battle.

Open Your Eyes
If you were to close your eyes on a bright, sun-shiny day, you would not see the light. The sun, however, continues to shine, anyway. The only reason you cannot see it is that you have closed your eyes; and by so doing, you have shut down your ability to perceive it.

The same is true with the Light of Christ. It continues to shine on forever, whether we have our eyes open – or not.

In fact, we couldn’t hide from the Light of Christ – even if we wanted to! We can, however choose to ignore what we see, or cloud our spiritual eyes and minds so much with disobedience and wickedness that we can no longer perceive the light.

The Light is Always On
Perhaps you know someone who has fallen into this condition of spiritual blindness. Perhaps it may even happened to you or me. It happens, even to the best of us, if we are not careful. We can lose the light we once had, and can fall into sin and transgression.

What if that has happened to you, or to someone you know. Be assured that the Light is still there. There is no depth so low, no darkness so deep, nor any place so far away that cannot be penetrated by the Light of Christ. God will never abandon us, no matter how far we may have fallen. The light, and life of his love is ever there. His arms are stretched out still. There is none that he will turn away, if we will but come unto him.

Come Unto Christ
Even in our darkest hour, when we may feel so unworthy, and so unwanted – know that our Savior, and his light are still there for you. It is Satan, and not Christ that tells you that you are worthless, unwanted, and unredeemable. Do not listen to him. Believe in Christ, that he is, and that he can save you. Follow the promptings of the light of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost.

Know that his power is great. For he is mighty to save. He has taken upon him the sins and pains of the whole world. He has suffered these things for all . . . that they might not suffer. He has broken the terrible bonds of death – that we may all live once more. He has triumphed over all things. And though each of us are weak and lowly, because of his love for us, he desires to draw all men unto him, that he may lift them up, and return them to the presence of the Father.

He as felt the pain and suffering of each one of us. He knows what your problems are, and what they feel like. And because he knows how it feels, he also knows how to heal us. He wants so very much to bring you unto Him.

The Lord knowing your pain, and knowing how you suffer, still leaves it up to you. The choice is always yours – and he will never take that choice away from you. He can bless and heal your life, but you have to be willing to come unto him, to believe in him, to repent, and to follow him by keeping his commandments.

If you do this, you will be healed. You will have won your own battle between the flesh and the spirit. You will be joined with the Savior on the winning side of the great and last war between good and evil. And most of all, you will have Eternal Life, in the presence of our Father In Heaven, where you will receive a fullness of joy for ever and ever.

One Step At A Time
Now, what can we do in our battle today. How can we take a step in the right direction today? I would encourage you to think of two changes to make in your life.

1. Choose one thing that you are doing wrong now, and stop doing it.
2. Choose one thing that you are not doing right now, that you should be doing.

Ask the Lord, in your prayers to help you know what these two things should be. Make a decision, and write it down. Commit to yourself, and to the Lord that you will make these changes. Work on them, stay with it. If you slip up, don’t be discouraged. Just renew your resolve to change, and keep at it. Eventually these changes will become second nature to you. Then you can select what you should work on next.

If you take it one step at a time, real progress can be made. At the end of this year, you will be able t point to some of the changes you have made, and see that you have made real progress.

Know that the Lord is pleased when we desire to repent, and change, and follow his will. He will bless you in your righteous efforts, and will help you to achieve your goals. You are precious to Him, and he wants for you to return to his presence, and live with him one day.