Wednesday, August 10, 2011

"But Bold We Need To Be"

I was blessed to hear Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's April 2010 conference talk "Place No More For The Enemy Of My Soul" while walking today.   


We live in a stunningly beautiful world given to us by our loving Heavenly Father.  We humans have done many things with it that are also beautiful, but have also done many other things that pollute it horribly.  Pornography probably should top the list of pollutants.  It is so distasteful that it is difficult to discuss politely.  


Elder Holland does a good job of it, quoting the Book of Mormon prophet, "I feel much like Jacob of old, who said, 'It grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech … before … many … whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate.'  Elder Holland responds to the quote by saying, " But bold we need to be."  And he is. 


Here are some selected memorable thoughts from this talk:

  • "... true love must include the idea of permanence."
  • "... the only real control in life is self-control."
  • "If a TV show is indecent, turn it off. If a movie is crude, walk out. If an improper relationship is developing, sever it."
  • "Many of these influences, at least initially, may not technically be evil, but they can blunt our judgment, dull our spirituality, and lead to something that could be evil."
  • "An old proverb says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,  so watch your step."
  • "More than one man has been saved from sin or stupidity by remembering the face of his mother, his wife, or his child waiting somewhere for him at home."
  • "Cultivate and be where the Spirit of the Lord is. Make sure that includes your own home or apartment, dictating the kind of art, music, and literature you keep there."
  • "If you are endowed, go to the temple as often as your circumstances allow"
  • "Most people in trouble end up crying, “What was I thinking?” Well, whatever they were thinking, they weren’t thinking of Christ."

I hope you will let each of those thoughts pass through your mind slowly.  They are well worth pondering, then internalizing.  So is Elder Holland's full talk, you can listen to it by clicking here:


The closing song after Elder Holland's talk was very appropriate, "Nearer My God To Thee"  It was inspiring walking music to say the least:  
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