July 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
July 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
July 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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RIGHT: CHRIST THE CONSOLATOR, BY CARL HEINRICH BLOCH, FROM SUPERSTOCK, MAY NOT BE COPIED<br />
became embarrassed because richly dressed people in the<br />
great and spacious building ridiculed them.<br />
Lehi said, “<strong>The</strong>y fell away into forbidden<br />
paths and were lost” (1 Nephi 8:28). What a<br />
tragedy! After finding God’s love, they lost it<br />
by caring too much about worldly opinion.<br />
To<strong>day</strong>, the world increasingly ridicules the<br />
<strong>Church</strong>’s standards <strong>of</strong> morality, modesty, spirituality,<br />
honesty, missionary service, and family roles. Lehi said,<br />
“We heeded them not” (1 Nephi 8:33). We must do<br />
likewise. <strong>Church</strong> members who set carnal appetites and popularity<br />
with the world above gospel standards betray the love<br />
<strong>of</strong> God and give the devil power over them (see 2 Nephi2:29).<br />
Becoming “Holy, without Spot”<br />
Moroni beautifully concludes the Book <strong>of</strong> Mormon by<br />
inviting all to “come unto <strong>Christ</strong>, and be perfected in him”<br />
(Moroni 10:32). To do so, we must deny ourselves <strong>of</strong> all<br />
ungodliness, especially unchecked carnal appetites. We<br />
must love God with all our might, mind, and strength,<br />
putting Him above worldly approval. We will then be sanctified<br />
through the grace <strong>of</strong> <strong>Christ</strong>. If we continue faithful,<br />
<strong>Christ</strong> will declare at our resurrection that we are “holy,<br />
without spot” (Moroni 10:33; see also 3 Nephi 27:16). This<br />
is our hope. It becomes reality through good choices. If<br />
we choose <strong>Christ</strong>, we will always walk on with hope in our<br />
hearts. If we endure, we will never walk alone. ■<br />
NOTE<br />
1. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein,<br />
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” (1945).<br />
HELPS FOR HOME EVENING<br />
1. Discuss what family members think is the meaning <strong>of</strong> the<br />
title <strong>of</strong> this article. Ask them what eternal blessings they hope for.<br />
What earthly choices do we need to make to receive these blessings?<br />
Testify <strong>of</strong> the hope and joy we can have by following <strong>Christ</strong>.<br />
2. As you read this article, make a list <strong>of</strong> the eternal principles<br />
referred to and their opposites. (For example, you could<br />
list hope and its opposite.) Discuss earthly choices that will<br />
naturally lead to each <strong>of</strong> the ideas on the list. (For example,<br />
what earthly choices lead us to hope? To its opposite?) Invite<br />
family members to tell <strong>of</strong> times when the consequences <strong>of</strong> their<br />
earthly choices led them to experience true happiness.<br />
3. Read the “Choosing to Follow Him” section. Discuss Elder<br />
Richardson’s two ways for coming unto <strong>Christ</strong>. What choices<br />
do we <strong>of</strong>ten make that separate us from eternal happiness?<br />
PHOTO BY DEREK SMITH<br />
As we<br />
willingly<br />
obey the<br />
commandments,<br />
we follow <strong>Christ</strong> in<br />
subjecting carnal<br />
desires to the will<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Spirit.<br />
ENSIGN JULY <strong>2004</strong> 21