I think what I like most about this talk are the examples that Elder Soares uses. He shared an experience of a faithful woman that she awakened on one particular morning,
“… an an improper thought that she had never experienced before unexpectedly entered her mind. Although it caught her completely by surprise, she reacted against the situation in a split second, saying to herself and to that thought, “No!” and replaced it with something good to divert her mind from the unwelcome thought. She told me that as she exercised her moral agency in righteousness, that negative, involuntary thought immediately disappeared.”
I was caught in surprise that not only me, that others too have experienced these experiences too! And most of the time, I experienced it during when I have doubts or struggles in the midnight of 3.26a.m.
Sometimes I want to try to analyze and figure out “what is wrong with me that I would have such thought?” Sadly, that usually just cuases me to focus more and more on the inappropriate thought much more. Thus, I know that it is the temptations that the Satan would wants me to do.
What I did with these thoughts most of the time are mentally tell the thought or myself “no”, and replace the thought and then replace the thought by praying, singing a hymn, reading scriptures, redirecting my focus back into a worthy talk, listening to uplifting music, etc.
“Despite our continuous efforts to seek out the Lord, inappropriate thoughts may penetrate our mind. When such thoughts are permitted and even invited to stay, they can shape the desires of our heart and lead us to what we will become in this life and eventually to what we will inherit for eternity.10”
Another example that Elder Ulisses Soares use is Prophet Joseph Smith,
“During a particularly difficult time when Joseph Smith and his fellow prisoners in Liberty Jail did not have freedom in anything except for their thoughts, the Lord provided helpful counsel and a promise to them that are extended to all of us:
“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men [and women], and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; …
“The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth.”13
In doing so, holy thoughts will continuously adorn our minds and pure desires will lead us to righteous actions.”
Another example is a man who entertained inappropriate thoughts and made tragic decisions as a result returns to full fellowship in the church.
“… when we resist the little temptations, which often come unexpectedly in our life, we are better equipped to avoid serious transgressions. As President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Seldom does one enter into deeper transgression without first yielding to lesser ones, which open the door to the greater. … ‘A clean field [does not] suddenly [become] weedy.’”18”
Elder Soares ended his talk by the last examples of how Jesus Christ exemplified the importance of constantly resisting everything that might dissuade us from realizing our eternal purpose as in Matthew 4:10-11.
“Can you imagine, my brothers and sisters, what would happen if we were to derive strength and courage from the Savior and say, “No” and “Get thee hence” to unvirtuous thoughts that very first moment they come into our minds? What would be the impact on the desires of our hearts? How would our resulting actions keep us close to the Savior and allow the continued influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives?…”
“I know that by following Jesus’s example, we will avoid many tragedies and undesirable behaviors that might cause family problems and disagreements, negative emotions and inclinations, perpetrating injustices and abuses, enslavement by evil addictions, and anything else that would be against the Lord’s commandments.”
I know that I could not deny the existence of the Satan’s temptation, but I also know that to believe in Jesus Christ can help me doing it. As what Elder Soares said,
“… Applying these principles in our lives requires more than a mere belief; it requires adjusting our minds and hearts to these divine principles.
Such adjustment requires a daily and constant personal effort, in addition to reliance on the Savior, because our mortal inclinations will not disappear on their own.
Fighting against temptation takes a lifetime of diligence and faithfulness. But please know that the Lord is ready to assist us in our personal efforts and promises remarkable blessings if we endure to the end.”
I just feel all these General Conference talks are so in time for me, and every talk I learned something that helps me repair my weaknesses. I can able to improve so much if I just change a thing at a time each time forever, and I know I can become better.
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