Surviving Spiritually

[Carborendum]

Have you had experiences that made you think of Pres. Nelson's quote:

Quote

"...in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." 

Something recently made me think of this.  It was a secular matter.  Yet it was something that is very important for my family to figure out.  Still, it made me wonder, "What happens if I come across something like that in the spiritual domain?"

[JohnsonJones]

Today, in the Western World, I see a LOT of people practicing Idolatry, who do not even realize they are practicing it.

It is especially prevalent in Politics.  People will castigate anyone who is part of another party, or who isn't part of their political theology as sinners (which is ridiculous.  The Lord wasn't a Conservative, and he definitely wasn't a Democrat, so trying to accuse each of being a sinner due to political ideologies rather than letting the Lord be the judge is rather...well...).

However, we see wickedness abounding all around us.  In the recent election with much of the political turmoil I was greatly bothered.  We have been taught not to support evil or wicked leaders, and yet, we had many doing just that and being very proud of it.  Ironically, many called those who did not support wickedness...as sinners.

Praying about it brought great comfort as I was led to understand that it all was to bring about the Lord's purposes.  I understood that men would worship anti-christs and those who stood against the Lord, with even the elect being deceived.  I was also given the hope that I would hear from the Lord before the next decade was out.  I don't know what that could mean, it could mean that the second coming is right around the corner and that the events and individuals prophesied will come in very short order (in which case, the Anti-Christ is probably currently either in power or coming to power very soon, and it will be obvious to those who look back that those who were considered the very elect of the Lord were even deceived and worshipping this anti-christ as a leader...or worse...as the Lord's chosen servant).  It could also mean that I'm going to be dead in short order as well (not unbelievable, as I have gotten up there in years comparatively to many others).  Joseph Smith had a similar thing told about himself, and it wasn't that the second coming was going to occur in the next century, but he certainly got to see the Lord's face before the turn of the century occurred.  It could also mean something else.  However, whatever it means, it means that I am worrying too much about the world and not enough about myself.  I should take comfort that the Lord's purposes are progressing and know that as long as I stay true to the Lord and his gospel, all will be well.

I had great conflict with the new prophet's approach to things originally, but with great prayer and faith I've turned into a solid believer in President Nelson's divine calling.  I truly believe we should follow the prophet, but I see that there are many in the Church that will turn on him and other apostles if the political spectrum of belief they have is offended (aka...they worship their political leaning more than they worship the Lord or follow his servants advice).  This has also caused some conflict in my life.  As I've seen some of this become more manifest, not just with members, but in my own family, I've turned to the Lord for guidance on how to deal with these things.  I haven't gotten all the answers to these questions, except, that once again, to be comforted and to stay true to my covenants.  That all will be well, and that as long as I strive to be faithful, I will have joy in this life and in heaven.

A lot of it depends on my own faithfulness.  It can be a struggle at times as I am a very imperfect being.  I have myriads of sins that I try to overcome every day.  The temptations of the world are all around us.  I am too possessive of worldly things (such as my books, which is a great downfall of mine, but I am at least aware of my failing), and do not love my fellowman enough.  When asked, I will give a dollar or two to the beggar, but in reality, I should be far more charitable and give $5 or $20 to those who ask of it.  When asked to donate to charitable causes I need to be far more giving.  I am weak in my own wariness of my financial future (of which, little may be left anyways, as I mentioned above, I could very well be dead in a few years).  The story in the New Testament of the rich man who died...tells that we don't really know when we will die and any possessions we have now are absolutely useless to us...including any money we have saved up.

Most of what I've gotten has been comfort I suppose, in the face of an overwhelmingly wicked world which is only getting more wicked.  Immorality abounds.  I am demoralized when I hear that 95% of young people today participate in immoral actions before they are married.  I worry about my descendants and as I know some have problems regarding the church wonder if they too have fallen in with the worldly practices in that regards.  I worry that I am not strong enough and that I was too weak to teach them properly.  I know I tried my best, but I still seem to have failed in some ways.  Once again, it's only with faith in the Lord that I can find hope in this matter. 

I see a world where evil is called good and good is called evil today.  It's not just whether one is conservative or Liberal, both sides are heavily involved with this, even as it's not even really a political ideology.  Even turning on the TV, even if you try to only watch good shows, you have commercials which are filled with sin and wickedness.  Saints even do not seem to notice how fallen much of this is.  Things that would have made us blush in the 60s are commonplace in Ads and commercials, even when you try to stick to shows that would only be uplifting.  It's very demoralizing and it's hard to stay positive when you see such things in abundance in the world around. 

So, a lot of this is basically me explaining my weaknesses.  I think the greatest thing thus far (and in the future it may be far more) that I can recognize is the Lord giving me comfort and hope in the light of all this.  That I can get reassurances of the Lord's love and help in strengthening my resolve to try to follow the Lord, even in the wake of so much that can demoralize me.  It may not seem like a lot compared to what some may experience, but for me, to a degree, it is a small miracle.