Sunday Report

Today's lesson was TFOT featuring the talk "Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul" by Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

He asks the question "Why is there so much moral decay around us, and why are so many individuals and families, including some in the Church, falling victim to it, being tragically scarred by it?"
We live in a world where immoral messages flood our awareness from every side. Entertainment of all kinds has a darker side that is filled with offensive language and sexual misconduct. The same computer that keeps us linked to lds.org and a world of family history information can also give access to a global cesspool of perceptions that will damage our mind and spirit. All of us are vulnerable to immoral activity regardless of age or gender or marital status. We are bombarded by temptation and opportunity at every turn.The root of the problem is lust which has a Spirit - destroying impact upon our souls. Love between a man and a woman is the highest and holiest relationship God gives us in mortality, with its accompanying desire to bring children into a family intended to be forever, thus built on the concept of permanence. Lust is by nature changeable, characterized by shame and stealth, and secret by nature, based on self indulgence as opposed to love which encourages us to reach out and serve others. We must guard ourselves from the temptations of lust in whatever form they may present themselves. We must separate ourselves from all that would harm us, as did Joseph of Egypt flee from the lure of Potiphar's wife. We must seek and accept help in fighting the temptations through priesthood blessings and prayer and any other aid available. We must pray without ceasing for the help of heaven and its angels. Self control is the key to safety and we are in danger of becoming so used to the sight and sound of immorality that we no longer are repulsed by even if we have not yet embraced it. We must seek to avoid that situation by not letting the world be too much a part of our lives. We must monitor our thoughts and refuse to entertain unworthy thoughts that may find their way into our heads. We must not let them enter our heart. We must seek the safety of holy places like our carefully protected homes where the world cannot enter unedited and unchallenged, and like the Lord's temples where God has promised us protection and safety. We must cherish and honor the symbols that we carry away with us from the House of the Lord, never to be set aside or forgotten. We must give place no more for the enemy of our soul, the evil one who can be overcome by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ whom we have covenanted to always remember, who if He is always within our thoughts, will banish the evil designs of the world ruled by Satan and his followers. The redeeming power of the Lord will reclaim those who are truly repentant and we will be able to keep our love and our marriages and our society and our souls as pure as they were meant to be.

Next week is the 5th Sunday and we will meet together with the Priesthood.

Have a great week.

The Relief Society Presidency