Conference

One of my favorite talks from general conference was Elder Ballard's talk, "O That Cunning Plan of the Evil One." He spoke very movingly on devices that Satan uses to ensnare and capture us with. He made a very impressive analogy between a fly fisherman hand carving a lure to capture a fish. He said, "The goal of the fly fisherman is to catch trout through skillful deception. The adept fisherman studies trout behavior, weather, the water current, and the types of insects trout eat and when those insects hatch. He will often craft by hand the lures he uses. He knows these artificial insects embedded with tiny hooks need to be a perfect deception because the trout will identify even the slightest flaw and reject the fly." He compared this to how Satan "handcrafts" his lures to ensnare the children of God. One of the traps that Satan uses in our modern days, is addictions. Elder Ballard spoke of the usual addictions that plagues our world today, but he added a new addiction to the list. One I had never thought as something that could be addicting. Elder Ballard spoke of the technology that addicts us as a human race. He said, "There is also great concern about some of the pernicious, addictive behaviors like gambling and evil pornography that are so personally destructive and so rampant in our society. Remember, brothers and sisters, any kind of addiction is to surrender to something, thus relinquishing agency and becoming dependent. Thus, video-gaming and texting on cell phones need to be added to the list. Some gamers claim to spend up to 18 hours a day going through level after level of video games, neglecting all other aspects of their lives. Texting on cell phones can become an addiction, causing the important interpersonal human communication to become lost. Not long ago a bishop told me two of his youth were standing side by side texting one another rather than talking to each other." I have never thought that I could ever be addicted to texting, but now looking back, I can see that I have been! Another technology that can be addicting is that of Facebook. I spend WAY too much time on Facebook, keeping myself updated on aspects of people's lives, that I just frankly don't care too much about, and yet, I can't stop! Every time I log onto firefox, I find myself automatically typing in Facebook's web address. Technology should be use for furthering the gospel, and every time something comes along to further the gospel, Satan jumps in with his counterfeit. Trying to ensnare us in something to prevent us from furthering God's plan for His children. Use the advancements of technology for good, not for your own pleasure! I know I have things to work on!

Mosiah 23:21

So I found a new favorite scripture from an email that my brother sent me, Mosiah 23:21. "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. I must admit when I first read this verse it left me a bit frustrated, why does the Lord need to try my patience?! I suppose the verse clicked for me today after my seminary lesson on faith. Faith is much more than passive belief. You express your faith through action—by the way you live. In the 12th chapter of Ether in the sixth verse the prophet Moroni gives a great explanation on faith. "And now, I Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; 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."

The last line of this verse is key, "ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." We must take a leap of faith, much like Indiana Jones in the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. We must put all our trust in God, he will never let us fall! Through a trial of patience and faith, you can receive a witness, and because of that witness your testimony will be strengthened by the power of the holy ghost.

Moroni is a perfect example of this principle. Later in chapter 12 Moroni is worried about his weakness in writing his language. In verse 23 Moroni says, . . ." for Lord hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing." Moroni speaks with so much power, that he cannot possibly write them down. Moroni and his father, Mormon, take a HUGE leap of faith writing and compiling the Book of Mormon. They had to trust that the Lord would help them write this Book for our day. The Lord did try Moroni and Mormon's patience while they worked on the Book of Mormon. Because of their steadfastness through this frustrating time, they received a witness that the Book of Mormon would become the keystone of the future church.

Anyway I thought this was pretty sweet! The Book of Mormon is just amazing. There are so many cool principles! Thank goodness that Joseph Smith restored the gospel and translated the Book of Mormon right?