"Overcoming
the Distractions of Babylon" has to do first with desire to become a
true disciple of Jesus Christ. We do receive according to our desires.
The fruits of righteous desires are our faith and thus our priorities.
We all have 24 hours in a day. Certain hours are spoken for, such as
sleep and work. I work in an office so I can have a cd player on my desk
and I listen to spiritual music to help invite and keep the influence
of the Holy Spirit. This seems to work for me. I only listen to that
kind of music at work, in my car and at home. I have this same standard
when I have my computer on all night long playing the soft spiritual
inspiring hymns playing through my surround sound in my bedroom as I
fall to sleep and awake in the morning. Yes, this does cost a little
money but the spiritual benefits far out weigh those small costs. "Lay
down at night unto the Lord and arise unto the Lord." I used to listen
to classic rock and country but gave them up completely and replaced
them with hymns and other inspired music.
Satan
wants to distract us from staying focused on the spiritual even while
living in a temporal world. I decided to eliminate these distractions
now in my life for I know that the day is soon coming that if we have
these distractions still in our lives, we will fail to stay in tune with
the Holy Spirit when we will need His guidance the most, during the
serious troubles that lie ahead.
I had to
force myself to give up most sporting events as well. I have been trying
to use the three hours I could spend watching a Saturday
football game and attend the temple instead. The blessings have been
amazing indeed. Football in and of itself isn’t evil but desires
motivate each of us to think, say, do and thus live our lives. When all
heck breaks loose in the near future, what good will sports be? People
will be fleeing for their lives in the major cities of this country.
They will not be running into the sports stadiums to watch sporting
events.
I have tried reading more of the Book
of Mormon more than ever. We are under condemnation per section 84 of D
& C. We can only qualify to lift that condemnation personally by
abiding by the conditions the Lord has stated. When enough saints
personally lift the condemnation in their lives by becoming Zion-like
people then and only then will the Lord call for the city of Zion to be
built. I have a ways to go to meet the Lord’s standard, but I know it
begins with righteous desires that translate into righteous priorities
that reflect what we do to eliminate the Distractions of Babylon
entirely out of our lives.
Another important
aspect of this process is how we spend our incomes. Paying an honest
tithe and generous fast offering are just the bare minimums. We who have
made temple covenants have pledged to put "everything" upon the alter
of the Lord. The day is coming soon when every latter-day saint will
have to leave behind the comforts of modern living, including their
homes and nearly everything in them. I am determined to have the faith
to do that. It is very difficult for me to not have my heart set upon
the things of the world. I started out poor and through the blessings of
the Lord and the golden opportunities this great nation of America has
afforded me, I have begun to prosper as the Nephites of old. I
understand their temptations very well. It is a strong temptation to
spend any extra resources on the luxuries of this modern world. I have
what I need and struggle at times to resist the purchase of "wants" that
would make me more telestial in my priorities. Nevertheless, I know in
my heart what I need to do.
I am choosing to
become one of the chosen of the Lord. Those who do are the only ones
considered chosen by the Lord, all others are only called. Only the
chosen will gather to places of safety. All others will be on their own.
Only the chosen survive the purging of the Lord’s house. All others
will fall away. These are important decisions that will result in our
souls being saved or lost. The ultimate goal is to have a people who
depend totally upon the Savior and not anything this world has to offer.
Period! These our my two cents worth and I do not submit these things
to claim anything of myself. I chose to do these things because I know
myself well enough that if I did not make such changes in my personal
life and more changes are needed, then I know that I would fail
miserably in the eyes of the Lord. By choosing to eliminate the
"Distractions of Babylon" and staying completely focused on the will of
God do we thus choose to be the chosen ones who, when all is said and
done will still be standing in holy places. Thank you for this
opportunity to share these things.
No comments:
Post a Comment