When I was 16, I had the greatest birthday party you could have planned. We went roller skating. Yes. It's kind of a favorite of mine... Anyways there was a sign at the rink that, at the age of 16, I found very funny. It said "SKATE AT YOUR OWN RISK". While roller skating isn't the safest activity, there are precautions taken that kept us safe.
We have these warning signs all around us. We take many chances at our own risk. There are things that we have the choice to do that is warned against. Extreme cases are things like drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, pornography... More common cases are those such as the risk we take watching a vulgar movie, using poor language, or laughing/passing on a dirty joke. We have signs for these to "CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK".
We have these warning signs all around us. We take many chances at our own risk. There are things that we have the choice to do that is warned against. Extreme cases are things like drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, pornography... More common cases are those such as the risk we take watching a vulgar movie, using poor language, or laughing/passing on a dirty joke. We have signs for these to "CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK".
We have these signs if we just pay attention. The Holy Ghost warns us about poor decisions before we even make them. We can feel a difference. If we live the commandments, we can more clearly see the CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK signs. We just have to learn how to recognize them.
How do we do that?
It all starts with knowing how the Holy Ghost feels to us. It is always good feelings, peace, joy, comfort, happiness. How do we feel without him? Exactly the opposite: sorrow, troubled, and miserable. We recognize what actions help us feel good and what actions make us feel bad.
It all starts with knowing how the Holy Ghost feels to us. It is always good feelings, peace, joy, comfort, happiness. How do we feel without him? Exactly the opposite: sorrow, troubled, and miserable. We recognize what actions help us feel good and what actions make us feel bad.
Then we pay attention to those feelings. When the good feelings start to fade, it is a "CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK" sign. So that is when you need to rethink the choice you are making.
These sings are not to prevent you from having fun, but they help you have wholesome fun. They are not there to prevent you from being interesting, but to protect you from being interesting in the wrong ways. Most of all, they are there to lead us back to our Father in Heaven and to eternal happiness with those we love. That is what it really means.
So pay attention and CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK with decisions that are contrary to the commandments of your Heavenly Father. Much like having precatuions to prevent any serious roller skating accidents, following what He has laid out will help you find everlasting happiness.
I love you all!
Love,
Sister Esmond
No comments:
Post a Comment