Music, an Element of Power

Music is a powerful element in our life.  It is around us everywhere we go.  It influences everything we do.  It can calm us down and it can even fire us up.  It triggers the imagination and takes us places we've been to or never been to before.  Since it is so powerful we must be very careful how we use it.  Music has been a way for some religions to praise God.  God delights in wholesome music, because it is a prayer to him (D&C 25:12).  I can remember how music affects me.  When I was a youth, I enjoyed listening to music that was intense, upbeat, and portrayed conflict.  Not that any of it was bad, but it never could put me in the right mindset when it was need. 

We must maintain a proper balance in the music we listen to.  We should listen to music that will builds us up and portray us as something special.  We must avoid listening to to music that tears down, supports foul and degrading language, promotes harmful actions and immoral activity.  Don't think that just listening to any kind of music is harmless, because that is not true.  Music has a powerful influence over the way you think.  When you listen to your favorite music ask yourself, "Is this going to build me or hurt me?"  Pay attention to the lyrics.  Do they make you feel important? Or does it get you riled up in a very bad way?  Or make you feel like trash?  Choose carefully.  I can promise you that is you choose wholesome music, your mindset will change into something better.  The world you live in will be given color and joy.  You will become better.

Fortification for the Soul (Part 2: Weapons)



(Continuation of Fortification for the Soul (Part 1: Walls and Towers)

 



(Ephesians 6:11-18)



Once all the fortifications were built and ready, weapons were made to defend the city.  Without weapons the defences are just simple buildings.  We need weapons in life, but I'm not talking about literal weapons that kill.  God has given us special weapons to fight against the adversary.  It is stronger than any weapon formed by man.  We can find those weapons through daily scripture study.  Listening to the prophets, maintaining good moral standards and following God's commandments help us find stronger weapons and keep them sharp.  The scripture point to Christ who is the creator of our weapons (John 5:39).



(1 Nephi 15:24,
Heb. 4:12)



We will also be given "armor" as we apply the principles and commandments we are given and follow them. This is a continual process.  We must always strengthen our defences and never waver from it.  As we do so Satan can no longer triumph over us and will be forced to turn away in defeat.  Our spirits our kept safe and we can return to God knowing we have won the fight against Satan.



(Jeremiah 4:14)

 One other thing that Moroni did that help make sure his defences were strong is found in verses 9, 7, & 11-12.  He gathered his armies and drove out the Lamanites in certain places in the land to avoid having bulges in his lines.  Any bulges in Moroni's lines would have exhausted more resources to defend those cities on the other side.  It was not a matter of conquest.  We can have bulges in our lives, it is by allowing certain vices to remain in our lives while expecting to live God's law (Matt. 6:24).  Look at the image on the right.  As you can see that is a major mess.  Someone should have emptied that trash can out a long time ago.  When we allow any kind of vice to stay with us it's like letting our trash can go over the top.  We need to "empty out the garbage" in our lives.  It may mean tossing out those magazines, changing what we listen too or watch, picking more modest clothing or literally throwing out alcohol and tobacco in order to be in harmony with God.  It may not be easy to clean up the trash, but everything will look so much better.  Believe me, a clean house is better than a dirty one.  And it doesn't invite pests either.

Now that we have our defences made, and our bulges removed we are more than ready to fight Satan.  This is a battle we are sure to win.  Why?  Because you have been fortified and prepared to follow God so that Satan no longer has hold on you.

Good vs Evil

A classic element to books and movies is: Good vs Evil.  It's almost unheard of to not have the two opposing forces going at each other all the time.  No matter what there is always those two opposing forces battling it out for supremacy over the other.  Everyone is all familiar with the Star Wars Saga.  I find a perfect example of a Good vs Evil element in these movies/stories.  Two of the key forces is the Jedi and the Sith.  These two opposing parties used to united but the Sith were power hungry, and broke away.  This began an eternal war.  I find this very similar to God and Satan.  Satan used to be with God, but rebelled out of greed and was cast out.  In his wrath he began to tempt men here on earth to lead them away from God.  Satan's tactics are clever and well devised.  Yet there is a way to define which side you are serving.

The Jedi are the "Keepers of the Peace", and are there to protect the weak.  Some Jedi are better than others when it come to certain skills in the force. (For example: swordsmanship, mastering the force, foresight, etc.)  They work together to help keep the peace in the galaxy.  With God, his mission is to help all men to come unto Christ and become perfect.  He works with our weaknesses and turns them into strengths.  We each have special talents and abilities that can help in God's work.  To know that you are following God you need: Faith, Hope, Virtue, Patience, Humility, Diligence, Knowledge, Obedience, and Charity. (Moroni 10:20-21) Charity is the greatest of all of these attributes.  It is the pure love of Christ.  Charity doesn't put itself above others, don't put others down, looks for the good in others, and exercises all the attributes previously listed with love to all men. (Moroni 7:44-47, 1 Cor. 13:4-8, 13.)

The Sith, as you already know, are a break off of the Jedi Order.  They are in a desperate and greedy search for power.  Life has no meaning to them, and often they will fight each other for more power.  With Satan he tries to get us to be self-centered.  Everything that Satan does is the exact opposite of God.  God is trying to help us be happy.  Satan is trying to make us as miserable as he is (2 Nephi 2:27).  His traits are: Pride, Greed, Selfishness, Self-pity, Anger, Laziness, and anything meant for self gratification.  Satan uses the lie, "you're not good enough" but God says, "I can help you become better."  You are choosing happiness, or misery.

What side do you Choose?

The Cold of Winter to the Warmth of Summer

When you hear the word "winter" the image that might come to mind is a wasteland of white and cold.  I'm not always bothered by the cold chill, even though it can be plenty cold.  Yet the cold was still there and I'd often feel it on my face or back.  Sometimes it would penetrate my gloves and coat and then I'd feel it.  I knew it was cold outside, but I refused to see it as a winter wasteland.  Instead I turned it around and I saw a glowing Wonderland, full of beauty.

There are lots of bad things happening in the world right?  Wars are being fought, Africa is starving, the debt is increasing and the world is going to end.  Dear me!  It looks like the world is destroying itself right?  NO!  It may seem like there are so many bad things happening, but there is also lots of good things happening.  How do you find the good amongst all the bad?  You look past the bad searching for good.  You will always find what your searching for.

Do you remember the song "What a wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong? Part of the song reads:

"I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

"I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world"

I have found out myself that even though the world is bleak and hopeless, there is beauty all around and hope.  I have found this by believing in the good and doubting the bad.  Through Jesus Christ I have found hope in the future.  I've found joy in the little things whether it was looking at a simple plant on the road side or even the majestic Eiffel Tower in Paris I see the good in the world and allow it to soak into my soul.  Because of that I have seen the work of God and how it blesses me.

The world isn't all doom and destruction.  There are lots of good things happening.  The sun is shining, birds are singing, Man has seen the far reaches of the galaxy and has even been to the deepest ocean.  That may seem so simple and petty, but it's true.  God has created a world with so many beautiful things so that we could be happy.  God never created wars, or poverty.  He created a earth to help us learn and grow so that we can find pure happiness.  Yes we are going to experience pain and loss.  But did you know that out of the ashes is the most fertile soil.  Some of the strongest plants our grown from adversity.  Our greatest leaders came during times of struggle and it is those individuals that we often honor.  (2 Nephi 2:11) Our happy times came after a struggle.

Winter never lasts forever.  Eventually the snow will melt and the colors of summer will break forth out of the ground and you will feel the loving warmth of the sun.  Our trials will not last forever.  We can find relief in our struggle through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and come to find warmth in our winters until summer comes.  I know you will find it.

A Father's Love

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee . . ." - Jeremiah 1:5

One of my favorite movies as a kid was Disney's "A Goofy Movie".  It follows Goofy and Max on a wild adventure as Goofy tries to establish a closer relationship with his teenage son.  Max on the other hand is trying to get away from his father.  Goofy as we know is . . . well . . . goofy.  But he makes us laugh as he stumbles across the screen.  This drives Max crazy, because Goofy is just an embarrassment to him.  Goofy wants to have a one-on-one relationship with his son, and tries relentlessly to get it.  Max on the other hand is so bent on pushing him away because, let's face it, he's ruining his life.


Well, life wasn't very good for these two.  Goofy loved his son very much and wanted what was best for him.  It hurt him when Max kept pushing him away or getting into trouble.  Max must have thought Goofy was out to make him miserable.  Can you blame Goofy for wanting to be apart of his son's life?  Luckily, there is a happy ending to the story Max finally stops fighting Goofy and finds out how much he really cared about him.  They even became best friends and wanted to do things with each other.

We have a father in heaven.  He loves us very much because we are his children.  He wants what is best for us.  At times it feels like he is not listening or is just there to annoy us.  But that is not true.  He puts us in places where we will learn and grow the most. (D&C 95:1.)  At times he will send others to act in his stead so that he are comforted.  He understands what we are going through and will give us comfort when it's needed.  We may not recognize it but when we open our hearts to him, trusting him that all will be well with us, we will see his hand in our lives.


(John 17:23)

 God also wants us to have all that he has, but it hurts him when we turn away his love.  God will never leave us.  When we feel abandon by him it's only because we left him.  God wants to be apart of our life because he created us.  God made it possible for us to return to him through Jesus Christ (John 3:16).  Christ atoned for our sins so that we can live in the presence of God.  Through Christ's teachings we are able to understand who God is and his plan for us (John 14:7, 9).  As we come to know God, we begin to see his love around us shine.