If God had a facebook page would you be on his "Friends" list?
Whom would he list as his children?
Where does he post as his work place? (your heart, home?)
What would he list as his favorite movies, music, books?
Would He be able to keep your latest decision on his wall or would He have to hit the Hide button ?
We live in a world with more evil today than at any other time. We actually go out of our way to hardwire our homes to let it in. TV, Internet, Music, etc.
Do we "wire" our families to the messages of the gospel?
In the old testament: Lot pitched his tent toward the city of Sodom . For us Sodom represents the world. Abraham built an Altar outside of his home towards the temple.
we have the same choices. We can have our lives facing the temple and our Heavenly Father or towards the world.
President Harold B. Lee told us that if we would do 3 things our families will be much better protected from the evil in the world.
1st) Create Zion in your hearts and home.
Elder David Stone of the second quorum of the seventy said:
"We seek Zion because it is the habitation of our Lord, who is Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. In Zion, and from Zion, His luminous and incandescent light will shine forth and He will rule forever," said Elder Stone of the Seventy. One of the greatest challenges Church members face today is to live in the world, but somehow, not be of the world, said Elder Stone.
"We should not allow ourselves to be engulfed by the culture which surrounds us. We seldom realize the extent to which we are a product of the culture of our place and times."
He said Church members need not adopt the standards, the mores and morals of Babylon. "We can create Zion in the midst of Babylon. We can have our own standards for music, and literature, and dance, and film, and language. We can have our own standards for dress and deportment, for politeness and respect. We can live in accordance with Lord's moral laws. We can limit how much of Babylon we allow into our home by the media of communication.
"We can live as a Zion people, if we wish to. Will it be hard? Of course it will; for the waves of Babylonian culture crash incessantly against our shores. Will it take courage? Of course it will."
2nd: Be a light among those we live near
Being an example to our neighbors, co-workers and friends may seem difficult, but
small, seemingly insignificant things you do can make a big difference. I read about some small glowworms found in caves in New Zealand. Each one by itself produces only an insignificant pinpoint of light. But when millions of them light up a cave one by one, they produce enough light by which one can actually read. Likewise, each of our little deeds may share only a pinpoint of light, but added together they begin to make a significant difference.
Make your standards known to others. Your friends and collegues tend to help you keep your standards.
As you share your light, others will find greater light too
3rd: Focus on ordinances and principles of the temple.
on Oct. 19, 2008 at our Stake Conference here in Virginia, Quentin R. Cook spoke. He said: "If I could see my children praying in their rooms or reading in the scriptures when they could do something elso I'd know they have a personal relationship with Heavenly Father."
President Benson said: The temple is an ever-present reminder that God intends the family to be eternal. How fitting it is for mothers and fathers to point to the temple and say to their children, “That is the place where we were married for eternity.” By so doing, the ideal of temple marriage can be instilled within the minds and hearts of your children while very young.
In the peace of these lovely temples, sometimes we find solutions to the serious problems of life. Under the influence of the Spirit, sometimes pure knowledge flows to us there. Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. These answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways.
Now let me say something else to all who can worthily go to the House of the Lord. When you attend the temple and perform the ordinances that pertain to the House of the Lord, certain blessings will come to you:
• You will receive the spirit of Elijah, which will turn your hearts to your spouse, to your children, and to your forebears.
• You will love your family with a deeper love than you have loved before.
• Your hearts will be turned to your fathers and theirs to you.
• You will be endowed with power from on high as the Lord has promised.
• You will receive the key of the knowledge of God. (See D&C 84:19.) You will learn how you can be like Him. Even the power of godliness will be manifest to you. (See D&C 84:20.)
• You will be doing a great service to those who have passed to the other side of the veil in order that they might be “judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (D&C 138:34.)
Such are the blessings of the temple and the blessings of frequently attending the temple.
I hope that as each of you begin your own families and establish your own homes that you will be very aware and cautious of the evil you allow in your homes and also that you will be always striving to face your hearts and homes to the priniciples of the Gospel. I know with all my heart it will bring you the most happiness.
