Weekly update September 6th - September 12th

FAITH

"Keeping the Law of Chastity"

Lesson 17 - Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson


Doctrine:

“The moral code of heaven for both men and women is complete chastity before marriage and full fidelity after marriage.”

In this dispensation the Lord reiterated the commandment given at Sinai when He said, “Thou shalt not … commit adultery, … nor do anything like unto it” (D&C 59:6, emphasis added). From the beginning of time, the Lord has set a clear and unmistakable standard of sexual purity. It always has been, it is now, and it always will be the same. That standard is the law of chastity. It is the same for all—for men and women, for old and young, for rich and poor.

  

Invitation to Action:

There is an old saying that states: It is better to prepare and prevent than it is to repair and repent. How true that is of the law of chastity. The first line of defense in keeping ourselves morally clean is to prepare ourselves to resist temptation and prevent ourselves from falling into sin.

Clean thoughts

Control your thoughts. No one steps into immorality in an instant. The first seeds of immorality are always sown in the mind. When we allow our thoughts to linger on lewd or immoral things, the first step on the road to immorality has been taken. I especially warn you against the evils of pornography. Again and again we hear from those caught in deep sin that often the first step on their road to transgression began with pornographic materials. The Savior taught that even when a man looks upon a woman to lust after her, or in other words, when he lets his thoughts begin to get out of control, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart (see Matt. 5:28; D&C 63:16).

Prayers for strength

Always pray for the power to resist temptation. Temptation will come to all of us. It will take many forms and appear in many disguises, but the Lord has given us the key for resisting it. He said to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work” (D&C 10:5). It should be part of our daily prayers to ask the Lord for constant strength to resist temptation, especially temptations that involve the law of chastity.

Modesty

Be modest. Modesty in dress and language and deportment is a true mark of refinement and a hallmark of a virtuous Latter-day Saint. … Shun the low and the vulgar and the suggestive.

Healthful, positive activities

Overcome evil with good. You can overcome many evil inclinations through good physical exertion and healthful activities. A healthy soul, free of the body-and-spirit-dulling influences of alcohol and tobacco, is in better condition to overthrow the devil.

Parents should teach their children to live the law of chastity.

Parents should give their children specific instructions on chastity at an early age, both for their physical and moral protection.

  

Promised Blessings:

God has given us the law of chastity to bring us joy.

Our Heavenly Father desires nothing for us but to be happy. He tells us only those things that will bring us joy. And one of the surest principles given by God to help us find that joy is the law of chastity. I pray with all my heart that you will consider most solemnly the joyful consequences of keeping this law, and the tragic consequences of violating it.

When we obey the law of chastity and keep ourselves morally clean, we will experience the blessings of increased love and peace, greater trust and respect for our marital partners, deeper commitment to each other, and therefore a deep and significant sense of joy and happiness.

 Read, study, or listen to the entire lesson here:  

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/on-being-genuine?lang=eng

A conference talk given by Elder David Bednar in the April 2013 conference is a great addition to this lesson.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/we-believe-in-being-chaste?lang=eng

  

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Relief Society Announcements: 

Women's Broadcast: September 26, 2015
Dinner at 4:30 pm
Broadcast at 6:00 pm
All women and girls ages 8 and up are encouraged to attend.

Start now preparing for conference.  Check out this website with fun ideas to entertain children:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/children?lang=eng

Lesson Schedule

September 13th - Ezra Taft Benson lesson 17
September 20th - Ezra Taft Benson lesson 18
September 27th - Teaching for Our Time

Recipes on the blog:

If you have a recipe you would like to share send them to:  drbennett1@hotmail.com or call or text them to 208-351-7083.

Visit the ward recipe blog:  www.burton4threcipes.blogspot.com

Visit the Relief Society blog:  www.burton4thrs.blogspot.com

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