Escaping Enemy Territory

I love learning about my family.  My grandfather told me some stories about a relative who served during WWII as a paratrooper.  This story is one of my favorites:
"Asael Lyman was part of the 82nd Airborne which went in behind the German lines into Holland. They were in wooden gliders and lost a third of their men before they even got on the ground. Only a handful of men survived this campaign.

"He goes from an innocent country boy to a battle hardened soldier in a matter of three days or so. He told me about trying to dig with his nose because he was in a partially dug foxhole and the Germans were trying to dig him out with a machine gun. Bullets were going through his clothes. The Americans were eventually pinned down and captured and put in a prison camp after riding for several days in a train boxcar where they could not lay or sit down so many were crammed into the cars.

"While in the camp, he saved the cigarettes he was supplied by the Red Cross in his mattress until he had enough to buy a few potatoes which he traded over the fence with the locals for a map, and compass, and two Italian worker's uniforms. He and an Italian man walked right out the front gate and hid in barns and other places until they got back to friendly forces.

"His parents didn't know he was alive for 6 months until he called from New York on his way home."
(W. Wilcken)

Aseal reached the Allied forces by listening to the Machine Gun fire of the two opposing armies.  You may not think they would be different, but because of the abilities of both armies, they manufactured different equipment.  Being trained to go behind enemy lines, Aseal knew what to look for.

We are in enemy territory right now.  Sounds stupid but think about it, Satan rebelled against God.  He is going around trying to destroy the souls of men, and we are stuck on his ground.  But it's not hopeless.  Even though we have a lot of opposition in our way, we can still make it back, even those under Satan's grip.  Our search for happiness or even truth will help us receive certain tools needed for the journey back home.  God has given us the scriptures for a map so as to have an idea what we need to do.  Heartfelt prayer provides direction in our journey, much like a compass.  As we pray, truly seeking God's help, we are given direction through the quiet whisperings of the Holy Ghost.  You can go ahead and ignore it if you want, you are not going to get everything you want following the Holy Ghost. But you will be the happiest.  The road is going to be rough, and you are guaranteed to experience opposition along the way.  But as you press forward towards your eternal goal (heaven), you will make it home.

Something I've found fascinating about the world around us, is everything has a certain "voice" or "feeling" telling us what it is.  This is better known as the Light of Christ.  We are born with the ability to tell good from evil.  No one is born bad.  As we try certain activities we will get a certain feeling about what it is.  When an activity is bad, our conscience will give us a bad feeling to warn us.  Because the rate of fire on a German machine gun is faster than an American one, Aseal was able to tell which army he was near.  When we feel good, it must be the place we are at is good.  If we get a bad feeling as we near a certain place, it is wise to stay away from that place.

God has given us the tools we need to make it home.  Christ has provided us a way to make it home.  We are separated from God here on earth.  He wants us home.  Can you imagine the homecoming when we make it to heaven?  Our job is not to sit there and wait to be rescued.  Often times it requires us to rise up and go, because Christ cannot save us in sin.  He asks us to leave our nets, follow him, and he will give us eternal life.  As we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost we are able to stay away from destructive influences that will tear us down.  The gentle promptings will only be felt so long as we invite it into our lives.  The spirit is neither loud nor forceful, but it's impression is greater than anything man has created.  That is what will lead us home.

President Boyd K. Packer tells us what the Spirit is there for:

Finding direction is most important.  See how to filter the voices:

Infestation of the Soul

This blog is interactive.  I would invite the reader when they have read this to share ways we can fight the mentioned plague. I may add to this blog when I find materials that could help.  - Elder J. Ford

"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."
- Romans 6:12

Let's imagine something here, let's imagine something that isn't real.  Imagine you are at home and you suddenly hear the door being hit repeatedly.  Then you hear windows being smashed on the ground floor (if you have one).  Outside there are growls, moans and some screaming.  When you look outside you see a large group wandering outside.  None of them are walking right, and some have decaying flesh.  What you are seeing is a Zombie horde, and you are being attacked. (Back to reality.)

What is a Zombie?  By popular media definition it is a undead person that is rotting away and wants to kill you, eat you or just take your brain and turn you into one of them.  Simply put, it is for your best interests to stay away from them.  "Zombie experts" say you should stay in a secure area where they can't get in, have weapons on hand, thick clothing, and hold out till help comes to get you away from the drooling freaks.  I my opinion, don't even go near them.

Now I personally don't believe we will have a Zombie Apocalypse.  Zombies don't bring judgment anyway.  But there is a danger out there that is comparable to that of a Zombie horde.  That danger is Pornography.  Why pornography? Because that will destroy your mind much like a zombie would.  It will take control over your mind, and destroy your character.  Don't believe me?  That is only because you have never felt the explainable hunger and torment that comes from a porn addiction.  Pornography is everywhere and takes away everything you value.  Pornography destroys your character, families, marriages, relationships we have or might have, and your perception of the world.  It is something that you cannot allow into your life.  No one will ever be mature enough to handle it.

Scientists have proved that viewing pornography (visual or oral) rewires the brain until it is ruined.  Pornography to say the least is an addiction.  Addictions are bad, nothing can support that.  If you see it once you have to see it again and again.  Basically, you turn into a  zombie; mindless and heartless.  Also your very character begins to decay much like a zombie's body.  Your very actions are changed and people around will think you are being creepy.  Pornography also changes your view on people.  You don't see them as human beings, but objects.  You become selfish, un-sympathetic, and crave your new pleasure every second of everyday.  This is not like a sunny beach in Hawaii, it is one of the most tormenting things you will experience in your life.  It is not worth tampering with.

Now, how do you fight this.  Every video game, or movie, will show everyone scrabbling for weapons and immediately starts fighting off the horde.  They are trying to survive and get away.  What weapons can you use to fight pornography?  My favorite is the scriptures.  I consider it my primary weapon.  Using the scriptures helps build up the strength necessary to sand firm against dangerous influences such as pornography.  It directs you the path you need to take in order to fight these problems.  Prayer is important too.  If you do not pray to God, you will be left to yourself and that fight is not an easy one.  Church attendance, listening to counsel from parents and leaders, and your choice of friends play a huge role in it too.

The most important thing you can do is stay away from Pornography.  It don't matter how strong you are, you will not Survive.  President Gordon B. Hinckley says it best, "Stay away from them as you would the plague."  As fun as shooting zombies sounds, eventually you are going to run out of ammo. Melee weapons can't fight off very many for long and you are going to get tired fast.  So instead of becoming some movie hero and fight till your dead, it would be best to avoid fighting (if possible) until you can be evacuated out.  If someone offers you Pornography refuse it.  If it appears on your computer screen get off it, crash your computer if you have too.  Delete it off your phone, do everything you can to get rid of it. Most viruses come from porn sights (hint, hint, pun included).  So now you know what you are up against, act now and avoid the plague.  As you stay away from pornography you are able to have a strong peace of mind, closeness to friends and family and to God.  Pornography is not something you can live with, it's something you can live WITHOUT!  Throw out the garbage that comes from filth such as pornography and embrace an addiction free life.

 See the consequences that come from pornographic activity:

I know there is more we can add to this blog.  I would invite my readers to add to the comments how we can help fight the pornographic plague so others can be enlightened. Thank You! - Elder J. Ford (writer)