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Methods in Combating Negative Effects of the Media

Reading time: 2 – 2 minutes

From a talk I gave in 2009, upon moving into my current ward:

I. Introduction:

With the convenience of modern medicine, doctors can counter seasonal allergy attacks by injecting the patient with tiny doses of the particular allergen over a long period of time. This process slowly desensitizes the patient’s body to the specific allergen, even though their doses continued to increase.

Much like this method of treatment, Satan deviously introduces many immoral “allergens” into our lives through the media and entertainment. His intent is to desensitize our hearts and dull our spirits so that the evils of the world are less noticeable over time. Once successful, he continues to barrage us with the intent to “ensnare the hearts of men” (Alma 28:13). The majority of these evil pollutants can be found in movies, music, television, the Internet, books and magazines.

The ancient prophet Nephi prophesied that in the latter-days the devil would wage a war against righteousness and “others he will pacify, and lull them into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion… and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell” (2 Nephi 28:21).

We have been instructed by our Church leaders to “live in the world, but not of the world.” This includes steering clear of all modern-day immorality, including the constant media bombardment. It is not an easy battle, but one that must be fought day in and day out ‘down in the trenches’, in order to maintain a level of spirituality that will help us to return to live with our Heavenly Father after this mortal existence.

Continue reading “Methods in Combating Negative Effects of the Media” after the jump →

Finding Ways to Share the Gospel as a Return Missionary

Reading time: 2 – 2 minutes

From November 1998 to October 2000 I served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Ohio Cleveland Mission, fondly referred to in the Doctrine & Covenants as “the Ohio.” My mission was a roller coaster of an experience. There were good times and bad times, success and failure, obedience and slothfulness. I developed a love for some of the areas I served in, made a lot of memories and had a lot of faith-building experiences.?

In looking back on the time I spent in northern Ohio I will openly admit that I could have done better; but, more often than not we did the work, the Spirit converted individuals, people were baptized (in a fairly difficult mission), and the field was harvested.

As I am sure most return missionaries can attest to, after being home for an entire decade my mind begins to wonder how will my time as a missionary be looked at by the Lord? I know could have worked harder, been a little more obedient, and a little more faithful in the Lord and his timetable.

But I was a naïve 19 year old kid who thought I knew the Gospel, and thought I could go teach the whole world, and thought that everyone would jump at the opportunity to hear about the restored gospel and join the Church. At least that was my impression coming out of the Missionary Training Center. After two years in a fairly difficult land trying to teach the gospel, having more negative experiences than positive, yet developing as a person, both spiritually and physically, I returned home and moved on in life.

Continue reading “Finding Ways to Share the Gospel as a Return Missionary” after the jump →

Family S.W.O.T

Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes

S.W.O.TToday at work we had a meeting that discussed the strategic planning method known as S.W.O.T. As we went through concepts and ideas for out IT group, it occurred to me this might make for a great FHE lesson. While I didn’t have a complete idea for how I would approach this with my family, I knew I needed to present it.

So I busted out the white board and basically put 4 columns on it.

Column 1 was for Strengths. Which I had the family discuss what they thought were our families strengths.

Column 2 was for Weaknesses. Again had then give me what they thought were our families weaknesses.

Continue reading “Family S.W.O.T” after the jump →

Signs of the time – getting started

Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes

Men and Women are Equal Partners

Men and Women are Equal Partners

I’ve started reading a fascinating book “65 Signs of the Times Leading up to the Second Coming” – David J. Ridges and I thought I might start a series of posts that opens the discussion for them, because I like to go beyond what he highlights in the book, to more of a let’s show examples in the world. Let’s talk about after effects, etc.

The author makes a good point to say this book isn’t written to scare people and uses quotes from prophets to try and set the tone. I’ll probably put these quotes on each of the posts so that we don’t forget and end up getting caught up in the signs. That isn’t what I want to do either.

Gordon B. Hinckley
Continue reading “Signs of the time – getting started” after the jump →