One of my favorite speakers is David A. Bednar, an Apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He speaks with the knowledge of an educator and the certainty of a businessman who has seen much of the turmoil in our time and has on many occasions, been able to counsel those whom he has stewardship, "Peace, be still." Some may call that naivete but they know little of what he knows and have seen little of what he has seen.
Lately there has been much conversation about the fate of Brandon Davies, a basketball player for the Brigham Young University Cougars basketball team. He was suspended from the team for violating the Honor Code. As I was a student of the same University as well as its counterpart in Idaho, which, at the time was Ricks College. The Honor Code is a code of ethics, which may professionals in the world are unfamiliar with. Sure many have various codes they are bound to, but many violate them daily and repercussions for said violations go unexecuted. Even some famous figures have derided the college for their strictness and even going so far as to say there are racist elements involved as Brandon is one of only two black members of the team.
Now Elder Bednar does not tie these two subjects together, I do. I only mention Brandon's situation as an example of what I wish to write about. Many people see rules and laws as well as commandments when speaking of the spiritual aspects, as being something open to interpretation and that so long as you are obeying your professed interpretation of those rules, you are doing no wrong. Many see Brandon's offense as being minor. Whereas the Law of Chastity whose elements reach as far as the Ten Commandments is far from a minor rule. Brandon knew this and he knew that violation of such a commandment, would result in disciplinary action.
Other rules are also included here. The laws of tithing, sacrifice, Word of Wisdom, and so forth. All affect every facet of our lives yet others, even some in the church deride others for seemingly unambiguous stances on why they follow the law as they do. Caffeine among the elements of the Word of Wisdom that is constantly being debated. Why do they adhere to such strict interpretations of the law. The attitude is "Live a little" It seems ironic that hose who claim violation of these rules constitute "living" when so many of them who follow their appetites for violation of these rules to their extremes often die prematurely. Word of Wisdom in this is obvious. Drinking = Car wreck or cirrhosis Smoking = Lung Cancer, overindulgence = obesity, diabetes, etc.
Disobedience to the Law of chastity may result in STD transmission which often lead to premature deaths if not a significant decrease in the quality of life. Laws of tithing and sacrifice are not so obvious to the world but what should be fairly agreeable is a healthy disposition to give to those who are in greater need and to do it in a way that much good can come from it collectively -- such is a noble thing.
Perhaps a different way to explain it is to relate the often told story of an employer who wished to hire a driver to drive freight over a mountain pass as part of the journey that was to be taken often. In the interview he asked each candidate, "How close can you come to the edge without sliding off?" Each man supposing to best those who preceded him spoke of varying distances even so much as having a portion of the tire hanging over the edge of the road, save one. This man replied that he didn't know but he assured the employer that he would keep the truck as far away from the edge of the precipice as he could. Can you guess who got the job?
The Lord would have us work the same way. Avoid the very appearance of Evil is often a way of describing this. If you have a weakness toward a specific indulgence, stay away from it. If you overeat, stay out of the kitchen, if you overindulge in alcohol, stay out of the bars, liquor stores, and the beer aisle. If you have an addiction to cigarettes, stay away from smokers. If you have a weakness toward elements of the Law of Chastity in any of its forms, stay away from temptations. For this one I would concede that in this day an age it is nearly impossible to go anywhere where elements of sex and sensuality are not plastered everywhere. It is also not possible when those things do flash up for the briefest of moments, that one can keep weird thoughts from popping into their heads. Having those thoughts is not a bad thing. Keeping them, dwelling on them, allowing them to take center stage in our mind's eye is the sin. Avert your eyes, leave, go somewhere else, do something else, whatever you need to do avoid it and stay away form it. For some it may be difficult or embarrassing. To them I say, be embarrassed. Let it be difficult. You will be blessed in the long run.
To many they have been or are already in the trap of some entanglement. I empathize with your plight, but here is where the second element comes in. Line upon line. there is not one person who lives or lived in this world, no will there be, who has drawn close tot he Lord "unto the perfect day" overnight. Each drew closer to the Lord and farther from the influences of the Devil and sin, bit by bit and drop by drop. This is true of slow steady progression within the light. It is also true of moving farther and farther out of the darkness. To conquer an addiction, or predisposition to a temptation, to gain strength in an area where one is weak, it takes a second, by second, minute by minute, hour, by hour, and day by day effort to pull away from the snare. Many just think they were born with those elements of their persona and so they should just embrace them. The law is the law and none are exempt from them. The Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance and there is no exception. Those challenges are meant to be part of that persons challenge in life and for them to just embrace failing in that challenge and just "live a little" is counsel towards destruction in the long run.
Much have I said about my own struggles and I will not elaborate on them here. They are mine and I will share my experiences with them as I choose. Brando Davies should do the same. It is between him and the Lord now and whatever happens with the other elements of his life are up to him. Those who are closest to him can reach their hands out in support but whose hand Brandon chooses to hold at any given time is up to him. To those of us who don't know him, prayer can go a long way to helping his spirit conquer his trials and at the very least a "Hi, Brandon" or a good firm handshake will do wonders. As for myself, who has not and will likely never meet him, I send my encouragement and my hopes that he will, one day return to his previous station, play for the Cougars and go on to become one of the wiser ones among us. There is nothing to stop him.
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